Umrah season: PIA to launch Lahore-Madina flights

MADINA: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is planning to introduce a direct weekly flight from Madina to Lahore for the next Umrah season, said PIA District Sales Manager at Madina Shahid Hussain on Saturday. He said that a direct flight from Madina to Peshawar is also planned, subject to availability of aircraft. Shahid pointed out that the revenue of PIA’s Madina Station was 20.43 million riyals till last year whereas the revenue till October this year, has been increased to 22 million riyals. The target for the year stands at 26 million riyals. He said that from Madina, some seven airlines operate besides PIA, including Saudia, Qatar, Emirates, Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines. Last year 11, 992 passengers had traveled to Pakistan by PIA from Madina whereas this year, to date, their number has increased to 13,068.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2012.