Hajj Flights Operation 2011

[Abbas Ali]

SEPTEMBER 28 - According to latest reports, Nas Air is one of four airlines authorized to carry Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

The four airlines authorized to carry Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia are:

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

Hajj pilgrims will not be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan on any other airline. A written order has been sent to immigration officials deputed at airports in Pakistan.

The decision has been made under Air Services Agreement (ASA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The implementation of this order will affect thousands of Hajj pilgrims who had purchased air tickets of various Arabian Gulf airlines for journey to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan via hubs of these Gulf airlines.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA to Use Seven Aircraft for Pre-Hajj Flights Operation



Lahore, September 28, 2011: PIA has finalized arrangements for carrying over 109,000 intending Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from 07 major cities of Pakistan. PIA’s Pre- Hajj flights will begin from Friday, 30th September 2011. PIA Spokesman said here on Wednesday.

He said that the Pre-Hajj flight operation will begin from Quetta on September 30, 2011. PK 1901 is expected to depart at 6:30 PM, the intending Hajjis will be seen off by Managing Director PIA, Mr. Nadeem Khan Yousufzai. Followed by first Hajj flight from Peshawar PK 1601 at 8:45 PM. While, on October 1, 2011, the first flight from Islamabad PK 1401 is expected to leave Benazir Bhutto International Airport early morning 1:00 AM, from Karachi PK 1701 at 1:50 AM and Lahore PK 1201 at 2:20 PM, the same day.

These inaugural flights from the major cities will carry a total of 1,737 intending pilgrims to Jeddah. The Pre-Hajj flights from Sialkot and Multan will commence from October 9 and October 13, 2011 respectively.

The Pre- Hajj operation will be completed on 31 October 2011 through 305 flights to Jeddah carrying over 109,000 intending pilgrims. PIA will undertake 10 (Ten) flights daily. PIA will operate 78 Pre- Hajj flights from Quetta carrying 15,190 intending pilgrims, 66 flights from Peshawar carrying 19,100 intending pilgrims, 46 flights each from Islamabad and Lahore will carry about 21,810 intending pilgrims respectively. PIA will operate 38 flights from Karachi carrying 16,722 intending pilgrims. While, from Sialkot and Multan PIA will operate 7 and 24 flights carrying over 3,320 from Sialkot and over 11,378 intending pilgrims from Multan.

A total of 07 aircraft will be utilized for the Hajj operations which include 03 Boeing 747s, 02 Airbus A310-300s and 02 Boeing 777s while 02 Boeing 747 aircraft are being kept as a Standby to immediately replace an operational aircraft if it develops fault.

PIA spokesman said that keeping in mind maximum comfort to intending Pilgrims, an integrated Hajj operation has been chalked out in close coordination with Saudi Agencies such as General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA), Ports Projects Management & Development Company (PPMDC), General Intelligence Department (GID) etc as well as Pakistani authorities such as CAA, ASF, ANF, Customs, Immigration etc.

The spokesman said PIA along with other stakeholders carried out numerous brain storming sessions and has made travelling arrangements to better facilitate the intending Hajj Pilgrims from Pakistan. The waiting time for the pilgrims before commencement of their journey has been reduced to half by eliminating processing at Hajji camps i.e. from 16 hours to 8 hours and processing of travel documents would be done only once at the airports of Karachi, Lahore , Islamabad, Peshawar, Sialkot and Quetta. Only at Multan, due to shortage of space as construction work is ongoing at the airport; the Hajjis will have to reach the Hajji Camp where the check-in and baggage acceptance will be done while the remaining processing of their documents will be at Multan Airport.

PIA has prepared an information CD for the Hajjis in which PIA policies, correct filing of travel papers and clearance from immigration have been explained. The CD also explains the intending pilgrims of the articles they may be allowed to carry in their hand baggage.

PIA’s Post Hajj operation will commence from 10 November 2011 and conclude on 10 December 2011. PIA spokesman concluded.

Source: PIA Press Release (September 28, 2011)

[Abbas Ali]

According to old news reports, last year 33 pre-Hajj flights from Quetta carried 11,267 pilgrims. That made an average of 341 pilgrims per flight.

Last year PIA used Boeing 777 aircraft for transporting Hajj pilgrims from Quetta Airport.

According to PIA press release, this year 78 pre-Hajj flights from Quetta will carry 15,190 pilgrims. This makes an average of 194 pilgrims per flight.

The significant increase in number of pre-Hajj flights from Quetta this year is apparently because, according to PIA Hajj flights schedule, this year PIA will use Airbus A310-300 aircraft for transporting Hajj pilgrims from Quetta Airport.

Due to some work on runway or runway usage restriction in this season, PIA is not going to use Boeing 777 aircraft at least for pre-Hajj flights from Quetta Airport this year.

This increase in number of Hajj flights from Quetta will also increase PIA fuel bill but it seems using Airbus A310-300 - an aircraft smaller in seating capacity compared to Boeing 777 - from Quetta Airport was unavoidable for PIA this year.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Hajj Pilgrims from Pakistan Can Travel on Any Airline

SEPTEMBER 29 - Hajj pilgrims have now been allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia on any airline of their choice, according to statement of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official.

More than ten thousand pilgrims will benefit from this decision.

On the morning of September 29, a batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan via Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways.

Earlier, it was announced that only four airlines i.e. PIA, Shaheen Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Nas Air are authorized to carry Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Flight information for Hajj pilgrims under Government Hajj Scheme has been made available on Government of Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs website www.hajjinfo.org.

Flight information can be obtained by entering application number and Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number on following page link:

Link: http://www.hajjinfo.org/hajjinq/inq.aspx

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to following news report, Shaheen Air will also airlift Hajj Pilgrims from Peshawar. 3,120 pilgrims will be transported by 13 flights of Shaheen Air from Peshawar. That's an average of 240 passengers per flight/aircraft.

I believe Shaheen Air will also transport Hajj pilgrims from some of the other major cities of Pakistan.

A total of 506 flights by various airlines will airlift 1,80,000 Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia.

Abbas

Peshawar Hajj flights from tomorrow

Peshawar Hajj flights from Peshawar International Airport will start from September 30. There will be total 91 special flights, including 66 of Pakistan International Airline (PIA), 12 Saudi Airlines and 13 of Shaheen International. The first Hajj flight will depart on Friday at 8:30 pm for Saudi Arabia.This year a total of 28,000 pilgrims will leave through Peshawar Airport out of which 3,182 and 3,120 will travel through Saudi Airlines and Shaheen International respectively. The remaining pilgrims will travel through PIA flights.

Like past the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Airport Security Force (ASF), health department, customs, anti-narcotics and Directorate of Hajj have finalized the arrangements so that pilgrims do not face any difficulty. All the intending pilgrims have been directed to follow the directives of e Ministry of Religious Affairs and reached Haji camps at specified time. Keeping in view security concerns, the entry of relatives and families of pilgrims in the airport has been banned. The people have been requested to refrain from creating unnecessary rush at the airport.—APP

Source: pakobserver.net

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Begins Hajj Flights Operation

SEPTEMBER 30 - PIA has begun 2011 Hajj flights operation. The first pre-Hajj flight departed from Quetta for Jeddah with 205 pilgrims. The flight's departure was on time at 6:30PM.

Most probably flight operated with a PIA Airbus A310-300 - one of six Pratt & Whitney engines powered Airbus A310-300s that are on dry lease from Airbus Asset Management.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

SEPTEMBER 30 - First pre-Hajj flight of PIA from Peshawar also has departed with 205 pilgrims for Jeddah.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

First Pre-Hajj 2011 flight from Quetta International Airport

A PIA Airbus A310-300 operated airline's first pre-Hajj flight of year 2011 from Quetta International Airport on September 30. The aircraft carried 205 pilgrims to Jeddah.


PIA Airbus A310-300 ready to taxi for departure from Quetta Airport for Jeddah with 205 Hajj pilgrims as flight PK-1901.


PIA Airbus A310-300 taxiing at Quetta Airport for flight to Jeddah with 205 Hajj pilgrims as flight PK-1901.

First Pre-Hajj 2011 flight from Peshawar International Airport

From Peshawar International Airport first pre-Hajj flight for year 2011 was operated by a PIA Airbus A310-300 on September 30. The aircraft carried 205 pilgrims to Jeddah.




Hajj pilgrims boarding a PIA Airbus A310-300 at Peshawar International Airport for flight to Jeddah.

Abbas

[TAC777]

First Hajj flight from Islamabad ,Pk 1401 ,a B 747-300, with 499 Hajis on board departed on schedule for Jeddah.
So far All three inaugral flights from Quetta, Peshawer and Islamabad have departed on schedule.

[Abbas Ali]

From Karachi also a PIA pre-Hajj flight departed for Jeddah with 499 pilgrims in early hours of October 1.

From Lahore today pre-Hajj flight will depart for Jeddah with 499 pilgrims.

Apparently PIA Boeing 747-300 flights from Karachi and Lahore.

Btw, is there any change in seating configuration of PIA Airbus A310-300s operating Hajj flights ? According to news reports PIA Airbus A310-300 aircraft carried 205 pilgrims on each flight from Quetta and Peshawar. I thought all PIA A310s were configured to carry around 190 passengers. Maybe Business Class seats replaced with Economy Class seats to enhance seating capacity of A310s operating Hajj flights ? I guess PIA A310-300s operating Hajj flights are among six Airbus A310-300s (AP-BGN, AP-BGO, AP-BGP, AP-BGQ, AP-BGR and AP-BGS) that are on dry lease from Airbus Asset Management and these leased A310s in their Business Class have seats without IFE system.

An Airbus A310-300 can accommodate up to 240 passengers, according to information on the web.

Abbas

[TAC777]

PIA is utilising only leased A310 for Hajj flights with a seat configuration of 18 plus 187 ,a total of 205 seats.(18+45+142 and 18+43+144).

[ali2128]

Received my Hajj itinerary. I'll be leaving for Saudi Arabia on the 20th of this month via Saudi Airlines flight SV-723 at 1800 hrs. I think it'll be a 777. Let's just hope they send in their 747 as I'm a die hard 747 fanatic.

[Abbas Ali]

ali2128, was option of traveling with Saudi Arabian Airlines chosen by you or allocated to you by computer from one of four designated airlines (PIA, Shaheen Air, Nas Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines) ?

Wish you a pleasant journey.

PIA is utilising only leased A310 for Hajj flights with a seat configuration of 18 plus 187 ,a total of 205 seats.(18+45+142 and 18+43+144).

Thank you TAC777 for the info.

Abbas

[Salman Haider]

First Hajj flight departures

ISLAMABAD, Sept 30 (APP): The first flight carrying 489 pilgrims on board left Islamabad for Jeddah to perform their religious obligations on Friday.

While speaking on the occasion Deputy Speaker NA Fasial karim Kundi has said that, the PIA will operate 270 Hajj flights to airlift 1, 25,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. He said the Pre-Hajj operation will continue till November 10. The airlines have setup central control room in Jeddah.

To a question about hajj arrangements he said that there will be no corruption during the hajj and transparently should be there.