Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a significant reduction in airfares for Umrah pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia. This move aims to facilitate more affordable travel for pilgrims heading to the holy city of Madina.
Discounted fares for Umrah pilgrims
A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the new discounted fares are now in effect. Pilgrims traveling from Karachi to Madina will benefit from a round-trip fare of Rs76,000, excluding taxes. For those traveling from Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, and Sialkot to Madina, the round-trip fare will be Rs86,000. This represents a substantial reduction from the previous fare of Rs120,000, offering a discount of Rs34,000.
Effective dates and additional discounts
The discounted fares are available immediately and will remain in effect until July 15. Earlier this year, on April 4, PIA had already reduced the one-way fare for Saudi residents and work visa holders by 30 per cent, and by 20pc for Umrah pilgrims. This previous discount was valid from April 7 to 11, allowing passengers to travel to Jeddah and Madina at reduced rates.
Pre-Hajj flight operations
The Pakistan Hajj Mission reported a smooth and timely pre-Hajj flight operation, which began on May 9. The operation aims to transport approximately 70,105 Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme. As of now, 38,150 Pakistani pilgrims, constituting nearly 54.35pc of the total, have successfully reached Madina and Makkah.
Financial performance and achievements
PIA also reported significant milestones in its financial performance for the nine months ending September 2023. According to an audited report, the national carrier’s revenue soared to Rs186 billion, marking an increase of Rs14 billion compared to the same period in 2022. Despite this growth, PIA faced a loss of Rs75 billion over the nine months. However, this reflects an improvement from the previous year, with a decrease of Rs12 billion in losses compared to 2022.