In view of some complaints received last year regarding the shortage of flights from Pakistan in the Umrah season, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is fully geared up with additional flights to cope with this year's inflow of pilgrims from Pakistan, said PIA country manager Khurram Mushtaq. He said that 224 additional flights will operate for transporting Pakistani pilgrims and that the relevant permits have been received from the Saudi Civil Aviation. “Of these, three flights have begun operations, and the first flight to land in Jeddah on March15 carried 427 passengers. There will be thirty direct flights to Madina,” added Mushtaq. Furthermore, 12 extra flights have been earmarked for Eid-Ul-Fitr later this year, he said. “Booking for seats, which started on Jan.15, is 80 percent complete while the rest of the bookings continue online,” said Mushtaq. He said the PIA flights will continue to operate until Sept.23 transporting Umrah pilgrims back to their country.
