KARACHI, Feb 5: The Pakistan International Airlines on Wednesday operated an extra flight to transport about 500 pilgrims going to the Holy Land to perform Haj under the open scheme.

“We obtained permission for this extra special flight from Saudi Arabia,” said Imran Gardezi, the PIA’s general manager for public affairs.

He said the PIA had already completed its pre-Haj operation by flying more than 100,000 Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

He said about 1,200 seats remained vacant on Haj flights because of the non-issuance of visas on time to the applicants.

The PIA had to cancel nine flights during the pre-Haj operation owing to the non-issuance of visas on time.

The PIA also had to downgrade its equipment by using 737 and A310 aircraft instead of Airbus and Boeing 747.

He said a number of slots at Jeddah airport, which were specially obtained by the PIA for Haj flights, remained unutilized because of the non-issuance of visas. The PIA had this year made adequate arrangements to carry a large number of pilgrims.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs had, at the time of issuing visas, announced that these Haj pilgrims would have to arrange their air tickets on other airlines as the PIA was operating with full capacity for regular Haj pilgrims and that those under open scheme might face problem and may not be accommodated when they are issued visas.—APP