Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Shaheen Air International will for the first time start operating direct flights from Jeddah to Multan after Haj.



Speaking to Saudi Gazette from his office in the north terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) on Wednesday, Shaheen Air’s Senior Station/Sales Manager Muhammad Asim said: “We are happy and proud that we are meeting the demand from the public to start direct flights between Jeddah and Multan.



“This new route has been accepted by authorities and the schedule for this new route will be announced soon after Haj.”



He said the first group of pilgrims who were on a Pakistani government scheme arrived in Jeddah by Shaheen Air, the first Pakistani private airline established in 1993, on Sept. 9 from Lahore.



Shaheen Air is carrying 14,000 pilgrims on the government scheme and 6,500 who fall under private tour operators as part of an agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.



The departure of the last Shaheen Air flight will be on Oct. 9. Asim said Shaheen Air would operate 78 pre-Haj flights and 81 post-Haj flights. He said he was confident that due to Shaheen Air’s performance and reputation, the carrier would carry more pilgrims than originally allocated.



He said: “We succeeded in providing the best ground handling services to pilgrims in terms of embarking cards, luggage handling, medical care and transportation through our trained and skilled staff who are available to assist and help Pakistani pilgrims at the Haj terminal at all times.



“All our flights were on time except two that were delayed due to the technical problems. Otherwise the Haj operation is going very smoothly. We have not faced any penalties till now from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).



“All matters related to aviation and immigration have been resolved satisfactorily and pilgrims have made no complaints so far.”



Pakistani pilgrims have praised the ground handling services available at KAIA Haj terminal, said Asim, adding they are thankful to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government.