More Than 250,000 Pilgrims Transported by PIA During Umrah Season - 2016

[Abbas Ali]

Lahore - July 13, 2016 - In Umrah Season this year PIA transported a total of 254,803 passengers on its flights which included 375 extra flights in addition to the regular flight operations.

During Umrah season 2015, a total of 150,740 passengers had been transported on PIA flights, which included 195 extra sections.

Source: PIA Press Release

[ammad]

Even after increase from last year these numbers are not encouraging, considering PIA have direct flight Advantage. According to Saudi Hajj and Omra Ministry Pakistanis are now comprising second largest country of origin for Omra Journey after Egypt.

Last year about 9,00,000 Pakistani did travel for Omra purpose and PIA get only 2,50,000 so still it is pretty less. very least PIA should be getting half of the Umra passengers as of now.

[Abdulrafeysiddiqui]

It would only be possible when there are special ticket rates(low rates) for the Hajj pessengers, specially, as the majority from our country does Hajj and even Umrah from their Life Time savings, so they can't afford when a single ticket costs around 70-80 thousand rupees. As there is competition in Pakistan, so other airlines which give tickets at lower prices take advantage and carry the pilgrims. PIA managment should now become serious in this matter if they really hope to get better load from past

[Abbas Ali]

Number of Umrah pilgrims carried by Shaheen Air should also have increased due to increase in number of wide-body aircraft in airline's fleet.

Abbas

[GrandSlam]

Report says 250000 Pilgrims in a season not one complete year..250000 in a season is a very good figure .There were hardly any seats on Umrah flights and all 777s were operating at their max capacity and the punctuality was more than 90 percent.Extra flights were operated almost daily from Karachi,Lahore,Islamabad and Multan in addition to the regular schedule flights

[ammad]

Umra season in term of PIA is year long period time minus hajj days minus idle days where no Umra or hajj journey took place.

To handle this situation, PIA needs to aggressively deploy additional capacity on these sectors.