AUGUST 10 - Secretary Religious Affairs Shaukat Hayat Durrani today told PTV News channel that pre-Hajj flights operation most likely will start on October 1 this year and will continue for one month.

He said that under a revised air services agreement between aviation authorities of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia a total of four airlines will transport hajj pilgrims directly between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia this year.

PIA and Shaheen Air of Pakistan, and Saudi Arabian Airlines and Nas Air of Saudi Arabia, are the four airlines designated to transport hajj pilgrims between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

A total of 180,000 pilgrims will be airlifted from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia. Around 12 flights will be operated per day to transport an average of over 4000 pilgrims per day.

Abbas

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PIA to Start Hajj Flights Operation on September 30

According to following news report published in September 12 edition of Urdu daily 'Express', PIA will start pre-Hajj flights operation on September 30, 2011, in which more than 300 flights will transport Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia. The pre-Hajj flights operation will end on October 31, 2011.

Post-Hajj flights operation will start on November 11 and it will end on December 12.

Abbas


Source: www.express.com.pk

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Great info. I'm leaving for Hajj from Islamabad probably on the first flight or in the first week of October. I haven't received my ticket/passport yet. Which 747-300 (Reg) will be operating from Islamabad in the first week of Oct?

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Ali Mujtaba- Flightsimpakistan.com/ Vasim.org

^ Wish you a happy journey to Holy Land.

Hajj flights schedule most likely will be posted on official PIA website in next few days.

Abbas

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Good news for the people who intended to start their holy journey from Faisalabad & its surroundings.

This time, Hajj flights will be operated directly from Faisalabad to Jeddah. These flights will be operated by non government airline (most probably Shaheen Airline).

It was declared by Arshad Bhatti Additional Secretary Ministry of Hajj & religious affairs in a meeting with Divisional Administration held yesterday at Faisalabad.

Previously Hajj flights from Faisalabad were operated via Karachi with change of aircraft.


Muhammad Rafique

According to a September 16 newspaper report, pilgrims performing Hajj under government scheme can pick their passport complete with visa stamp/paper and air ticket two days before departure from PIA counters to be set up at Haji Camps.

PIA counters will be established at Haji camps on September 28, 2011.

Abbas

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First Haj flight From Lahore on October 1

LAHORE, Sept 19: Vaccination and training of pilgrims intending to perform Haj under government scheme started at the Haji Camp in Lahore on Monday.

The first Haj flight would leave Lahore on Oct 1 at 3.45pm and some 38,000 pilgrims would leave Lahore for the holy pilgrimage this year, Ministry of Religious Affairs Additional Secretary Arshad Bhatti informed the participants of the training programme.

Pilgrims would report eight hours before the take-off time of their flight at the Haji Camp from where they would be boarded in buses for the airport. Pilgrims will collect their passport, ticket and other travel document from the Haji Camp a day before their departure to Saudi Arabia.

They should not forget to bring with them Haj dues receipt in original carrying photograph of the pilgrim, bearing date of departure and flight number, the intimation letter issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, computerised national identity card along with two copies, four photographs attested by the bank concerned and a certificate that the pilgrim had been vaccinated against flu, polio and meningitis.

The pilgrims would first get their passports and tickets after presenting the intimation letter to the counters of the Pakistan International Airlines or Saudi Airlines. The pilgrims should verify their particulars on the passport and tickets before leaving the counter and should contact the ministry staff at the Haji Camp in case of any discrepancy.

Pilgrims on medication should have the prescription of a physician, registered with the PMDC. They should get all their medicines packed in a plastic bag and sealed from the ministry staff. “Unani medicines, dettol, glucose, Joshanda, Phakki, Chooran and Sharbat are not permissible,” he said and added that every pilgrim would be allowed to carry 30 kilo luggage.

Source: DAWN

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^ There is no such information in this news for any other airline beside Pakistan International Airlines & Saudi Arabian Airlines participating for Hajj Pilgrims transportation like NAS Air or Shaheen Air International?

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Raihan Shahzad
VATSIM - West Asia - Pakistan vACC/vARTCC (S1)


EY-B77W, A345, A320, A319, GF-L1011, B732, A332, A320, A319, KU-A343, AB6, A310, A320, PK-B707/720, B733, AB4, A310

Glad to know that you are going to peform Hajj so hopefully there will be lot of pictures from this holy journey as well

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Raihan Shahzad
VATSIM - West Asia - Pakistan vACC/vARTCC (S1)


EY-B77W, A345, A320, A319, GF-L1011, B732, A332, A320, A319, KU-A343, AB6, A310, A320, PK-B707/720, B733, AB4, A310

PIA pre-Hajj and post-Hajj flights schedule is now available on following link on official PIA website:

Link: Hajj Flights Schedule (PDF)

According to flights schedule, PIA will use Airbus A310-300, Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 aircraft for Hajj flights.

Airbus A310-300 will be used for all pre-Hajj and post-Hajj flights from Quetta Airport due to some runway restrictions/work not allowing usage of Boeing 777 this year/season. Some Hajj flights from/to Peshawar will also be operated with Airbus A310-300

* First pre-Hajj flight will be PK-1601 from Peshawar to Jeddah with an Airbus A310-300 aircraft on September 30, 2011.

* Last pre-Hajj flight will be PK-1861 from Quetta to Jeddah with an Airbus A310-300 aircraft on October 31, 2011.

* First post-Hajj flight will be PK-2704 from Jeddah to Peshawar with an Airbus A310-300 aircraft on November 11, 2011.

* Last post-Hajj flight will be PK-4792 from Jeddah to Quetta with an Airbus A310-300 aircraft on December 10, 2011.

All pre-Hajj flights will be operated to Jeddah non-stop from Pakistani cities of Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Sialkot. Similarly all post-Hajj flights from Jeddah will be operated non-stop to these cities of Pakistan.

According to Hajj flights schedule, PIA will operate a total of 298 pre-Hajj flights to Jeddah from Pakistan and same number of post-Hajj flights will be operated from Jeddah to Pakistan.

Abbas

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Raihan, this year following four airlines are authorized to operate non-stop Hajj flights between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Two airlines from Pakistan and two airlines from Saudi Arabia.

1) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
2) Shaheen Air International (SAI)
3) Saudi Arabian Airlines
4) Nas Air

These four airlines are also listed on official website of Pakistan Government's Ministry of Religious Affairs (www.mora.gov.pk)

I think Shaheen Air will use leased Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-400 for Hajj flights. It will be interesting to know from which Pakistani cities Shaheen Air has plans to operate Hajj flights.

Saudi Arabian Airlines and Nas Air most likely will accommodate Hajj pilgrims on their regular scheduled flights between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Abbas

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PIA Hajj Flights Aircraft to Undergo Maintenance Checks In Advance

SEPTEMBER 24 - According to News One channel, PIA Board of Directors meeting held today has decided to perform maintenance checks in advance on PIA aircraft that will take part in airline's Hajj flights operation this year. The decision has been taken to help PIA in running smooth and normal Hajj flights operation. A total of 12 aircraft will undergo maintenance checks in advance, under this decision.

Out of these 12 aircraft, 6 aircraft were due to undergo maintenance checks during Hajj flights operation.

Abbas

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PIA Preparations for 2011 Hajj Flights Operation

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011 – PIA spokesman Sultan Hassan informing Geo News about preparations made by the airline for year 2011 Hajj flights operation.

Mr. Hassan says that PIA had begun planning for 2011 Hajj flights operation six months ago. The aircraft to operate Hajj flights recently underwent maintenance checks. The maintenance checks performed on these aircraft also affected schedule of a number of PIA domestic network flights and airline had to reschedule these flights.

According to Mr. Hassan, at 2:00PM on September 27 a meeting of PIA officials will be held for discussing/finalizing Hajj flights preparations. After the end of meeting, media will be provided information about PIA 2011 Hajj flights operation.

Mr. Hassan told Geo News that PIA has 13 Boeing 777s but actually PIA has 9 Boeing 777 aircraft in its fleet.



Abbas

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Important Update:

According to latest information now only following three airlines are allowed to carry Hajj pilgrims between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

1) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
2) Shaheen Air International (SAI)
3) Saudi Arabian Airlines

Hajj pilgrims attempting to travel on any other airline will be off loaded at airports in Pakistan. A written order in this regard has been sent to relevant authorities at airports in Pakistan.

The decision may affect 50,000 Hajj pilgrims who apparently had plans to travel to Saudi Arabia on other airlines.

Abbas

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strange to read that NAS Air is excluded for Hajj Pilgrims transportation from Pakistan

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Raihan Shahzad
VATSIM - West Asia - Pakistan vACC/vARTCC (S1)


EY-B77W, A345, A320, A319, GF-L1011, B732, A332, A320, A319, KU-A343, AB6, A310, A320, PK-B707/720, B733, AB4, A310