Pleasant surprise: PIA maintains 90% flight punctuality

The national carrier sets this record as it concludes post-Hajj operation.

LAHORE: PIA’s post-Hajj Operation concluded successfully on Monday maintaining an overall flight punctuality of above 90 per cent which is a new record.

More than 67,000 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia were brought back to Pakistan by the national carrier. PIA carried 8,198 pilgrims to Karachi, 9,660 pilgrims to Lahore, 14,537 pilgrims to Islamabad, 15,417 to Peshawar 9,754 pilgrims to Quetta, 6,008 to Multan and 3,527 pilgrims to Sialkot.

PIA’s successful operation not only received local appreciation but also that of Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, which applauded the efforts of the national carrier in ensuring timely departures and arrivals of Hajj flights.

According to a press release Chairman PIA Muhammad Ali Gardezi and Managing Director PIA Muhammad Junaid Yunus congratulated PIA employees for the successful completion of the airline’s Hajj operation which was entirely managed and operated by PIA’s own fleet.

Junaid Yunus said that the entire PIA team has fulfilled the duty in providing maximum facilitation to Hajj pilgrims in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and with on-time departures and arrivals of Hajj flights, as directed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The managing director also congratulated the employees of flight operations, engineering, passenger handling services, PIA scouts, marketing and especially PIA teams stationed at Jeddah, for their sincere efforts. He appreciated the efforts of PIA’s public relations division and the role of media for disseminating accurate information to the general public.

Junaid Yunus said that it proves that PIA has the potential to achieve any target assigned to it. The employees should work with the same zeal and enthusiasm in achieving higher revenues and profitability for the airline, he said. PIA has added additional frequencies on profitable routes like Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu and soon after the induction of new aircraft in PIA’s fleet, new destinations will be added to the network, he added.

This year PIA made special arrangements by establishing a facilitation desk for the information and assistance to its passengers at Pakistan and Jeddah hajj terminals including PIA offices in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The overall punctuality of the airline’s Hajj operation remained above 90 per cent. Pre-Hajj operation began on September 9 and concluded on October 9, 2013 while the post-Hajj operation commenced from October 19 and concluded on November 18, 2013.