LAHORE - Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director Muhammad Junaid Yunus has said the airline saved $9.5 million by not leasing aircraft for Haj operation since both the 204 pre-Haj and 204 post-Haj flights were being operated by the PIA aircraft.
Informing about pre-Haj operation 2012, he said so far 100 flights, carrying 41,645 pilgrims, had been operated and flight punctuality regarding expected time of departure from Pakistan and expected time of arrival at Saudi Arabia was 94 per cent.
He was speaking as the chief guest of the certificate awarding ceremony to the successful participants of an air safety course organised by the Pakistan chapter of Society of Air Safety Investigators (SASI) at the PIA Training Centre on Saturday. He said it was heartening to note that the society was a group of Pakistan-based aviation safety professionals advocating for improving aviation safety in Pakistan.
“The PIA is committed to aviation safety and it fully supports safety education by this group. The PIA has in the past also supported and sponsored a number of such seminars and workshops. The new avenue of safety training should be benefited by all stakeholders and airline operators of the Pakistan,” the managing director said.
Speaking on the occasion SASI Pakistan Chapter President Wing Commander (r) Syed Naseem Ahmed said the society after Bhoja crash focused on two aspects – assisting the crash victims and education of aviation community on air safety. Talking to the media, he said by the next week, the PIA would start flights from Islamabad to Saidu Sharif, Swat, while it would increase flight frequency on profit-making routes and new destinations would be added to the PIA’s international network after November.