Hajj Season: PIA carries over 110,000 pilgrims
PIA) operated 273 flights, carrying 110,726 pilgrims from seven major cities in 32 days
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 2nd, 2011.
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 2nd, 2011.