RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a special discount on domestic tickets during Eidul Azha holidays.
A spokesman for PIA highlighted, adding that the airline is offering 10 percent discount to passengers on the domestic level. The discount is valid for tickets purchased and travel during Eid holidays – only from June 30 to July 1, 2023.
The discounted tickets are available for sale with immediate effect, said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) pre-Hajj flight operations have concluded at Islamabad International Airport and Multan International Airports.
Earlier, the Hajj flight operation concluded at Quetta International Airport.
The CAA said that under the Road to Makkah programme, 26,000 Hajj pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia via 79 flights operated by PIA, Saudi Airlines, Airblue and Serene Airline.
Saudi authorities expressed special thanks for all the support/facilities extended to them by Pakistan to make this project successful.
Another 11,000 pilgrims passed through the Islamabad airport for the holy land aboard private flights, said the spokesman.
From Multan, a total of 7,944 Hajj pilgrims departed on 28 scheduled flights. Of these, 6,457 travelled on 20 scheduled flights under the government Hajj scheme. As many as 11 more scheduled flights took 1,487 private pilgrims to Hijaz i Muqadas.
Earlier, 58 flights carried 7675, both private and government scheme pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Quetta International Airport as the pre-hajj operation was completed.
Of these 58 flights, 27 were government Hajj flights and 31 were private. Government Hajj flights ferried 3,934 pilgrims, all operated by PIA, while 3,741 pilgrims travelled under the private Hajj scheme.
The airline wise break-up of private pilgrims shows PIA flying 19 flights, taking the highest number of pilgrims (2,645) to Saudi Arabia.
Fly Dubai took 756 private Hajj pilgrims to the Saudi Kingdom by their nine flights, and Air Arabia shipped 212 Hajj pilgrims using two of their flights.
Lastly, Serene Air transported 128 pilgrims through a lone flight of theirs. Since becoming operational, the QIAP’s reconstructed main runway saw 11 direct flights taking off for Medina and Jeddah, all by PIA.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2023