RAWALPINDI, Jan 1: Islamabad International Airport will suffer a loss of Rs one million during the haj season this year, Dawn learnt here on Monday.

This amount will be spent by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on making special arrangements for haj flights.

A total of 17,600 pilgrims would travel to and from the Islamabad airport.

A pilgrim is supposed to pay Rs 200 embarkation fee, which is collected by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Similarly, another potential source of income of the airport would come from the PIA but the national flag carrier is CAA’s biggest defaulter due to its poor financial condition.

The other four airports in the country carrying out the haj flights operations are also running into losses.

This year, the pre-haj operation would commence on January 16 and continue till February 15. During this period 42 special PIA flights — 31 Boeing and 11 A-300 — will be used for transporting the pilgrims.

The post-haj operations would start from February 26 and continue till March 28.

Airport Manager Farooq Malik said special arrangements were being made to facilitate the pilgrims, which include providing extra-lavatories, drinking water points and seating arrangements for the people who come to see off the pilgrims.