Hajj Season: PIA carries over 110,000 pilgrims

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operated 273 flights, carrying 110,726 pilgrims from seven major cities in 32 days, using seven dedicated aircraft up to October 31, a PIA spokesman said on Tuesday. According to a press release, the airline operated 265 pre-Hajj flights and 14 weekly scheduled flights for facilitating the pilgrims while eight chartered flights were operated which helped the airline earn $5.086 million. PIA said the transport of pilgrims to Jeddah completed with on-time departures while overall punctuality following delays because of weather, immigration, bird hit and re-routing etc, remained at 95 per cent. Salient features were reduction in pilgrim reporting time from 16 hours to 8 hours, elimination of pilgrim camps which helped save Rs50 million, light refreshments at departure lounges and training video for pilgrims which reduced processing time at the airports. Post-Hajj flights will begin on November 10 and end after one month. PRESS RELEASE

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.