PIA completed its pre-Hajj operation with almost 100 percent punctuality. The post-Hajj operation was started by the airline on 21st November 2010. It was already made public that flights from Jeddah (Saudia Arabia) would face delays due to heavy congestion of returning Hujjaj at Jeddah Airport, PIA spokesman said, here on Saturday.
He said that almost all airlines from other countries are also facing the same problem of long delays as all airlines operating from Jeddah Hajj Terminal are following Civil Aviation Authority's Jeddah schedule of departures. Elaborating, he said nearly 150 flights are departing in 24 hours which means presence of almost 60,000 to 70,000 passengers at Jeddah Airport, leaving less space for quick processing, security checks and permission to board to the planes.
Hujjaj have been asked to report at Jeddah Airport well before the departure of flight, therefore, it should be understood that it is not only PIA, all other carriers are also following early reporting time of the passengers in consultation with Jeddah Civil Aviation.
The spokesman informed that PIA has prepared a spare standby B747 to minimise any technical delay on account of operational issues. So far, we have not experienced any significant technical delay, he added.
He said that PIA has an extensive update system that depicts schedule and real timing of flights on the web-site automatically updated about the flight details. He added that PIA call centre is providing 24-hour services to customers inquiring about Hajj flights and their arrival.
From the beginning of the Post-Hajj operation, public has been informed through print and electronic media about the arrival time of the Hajj flights in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta. The public is requested to contact PIA call centre 111-786-786 before coming to the airport for receiving the Hujjaj.
The spokesman clarified that PIA and other airlines operating for Hajj can not book a bay on their own as it is allotted by Saudi Civil Aviation Authority. In fact, PIA and every other airline operating from Jeddah Hajj Terminal are allocated one bay each, which for PIA may increase as soon as rush of returning pilgrims is reduced. PIA has a separate window at all the airports, which takes care of the lost luggage.
It may be mentioned that so far, PIA has operated 39 flights from Jeddah carrying 16,404 Hujjaj. Among these, nine flights with 4,195 Hujjaj have arrived in Karachi, 3,273 arrived in Lahore through seven flights, 4,674 flown to Islamabad from Jeddah through 10 flights, eight flights have carried 2,625 Hujjaj to Peshawar and 1,637 Hujjaj have arrived in Quetta through five flights. PIA's operations team is working round the clock to minimise any impact resulting from Saudi CAA issues at Jeddah Airport.-PR
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