PIA has completed its pre-Hajj operation at all of its stations in Pakistan. The airline operated 255 flights from Pakistan, carrying 102,997 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land with a flight technical punctuality of 94 percent, PIA spokesman said, here on Thursday.
The national airline this year carried 102,997 intending pilgrims through 255 flights as compared to 115,346 through 282 flights last year. PIA's pre-Hajj operation, which commenced on 11 October 2010, concluded on 10 November 2010.
During this time, it carried 20,268 intending pilgrims from Karachi through 46 flights, 22,923 from Islamabad through 50 flights, 21,480 through 49 flights from Lahore, 18,770 through 58 flights from Peshawar 10,736 intending hajj pilgrims through 33 flights from Quetta, 4,159 through nine flights from Sialkot and 4,661 intending pilgrims through 10 flights from Multan. It also carried 14,738 intending pilgrims to the Holy Land through the airline's regular scheduled flights.
Though a few delays were witnessed due to immigration and clearance issues of intending Hajj pilgrims at the airports in Pakistan. However, on the instructions of Managing Director PIA, Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon, PIA's Hajj team comprising of representatives from all departments prepared a comprehensive plan for bringing back these pilgrims.-PR