Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially commenced its post-Hajj flight operation, with the first group of Pakistani pilgrims returning home from Saudi Arabia after completing their Hajj journey.
The national flag carrier began its post-Hajj operation on May 30, and the first flight, PK-742, arrived in Islamabad from Jeddah carrying 114 pilgrims.
The returning pilgrims received a warm welcome at Islamabad International Airport, where Chief Operating Officer Aftab Gilani greeted them and presented flower garlands. Senior officials from the Airport Security Force (ASF) and PIA were also present on the occasion.
According to PIA officials, the second Hajj flight of the day, PK-732, was scheduled to depart from Jeddah and arrive in Lahore. Meanwhile, Karachi’s first post-Hajj flight, PK-860, is set to depart from Jeddah on May 31 and is expected to land at 7:25 pm local time.
PIA stated that its post-Hajj operation will continue until June 30, during which the airline will operate flights from Jeddah and Madinah to major cities across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Quetta.
The airline plans to operate a total of 213 flights during the month-long operation, facilitating the return of more than 53,000 Pakistani pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.
PIA officials said all necessary arrangements have been completed to ensure smooth travel and efficient services for returning pilgrims. The airline added that the operation is being personally supervised by the PIA Chief Executive Officer to ensure the highest standards of service and coordination.
The post-Hajj operation is one of PIA’s largest annual logistical undertakings, aimed at safely transporting thousands of pilgrims back to Pakistan following the completion of Hajj rituals.