The post-Hajj flights operation was set into motion on Thursday as the first plane carrying 354 Hajis has landed at Lahore’s Jinnah International Airport, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The first Hajj flight of Saudi Air landed at Lahore Airport at 9:00 am.
As many as 700 Hajis will reach Lahore today by flights of Saudi Air, AirBlue and PIA.
Second Hajj flight carrying 190 Hajis of government’s quota will touch down at Lahore Airport at 2:39 pm.
Third Hajj flight will land at 8:00 pm.
The return of Pakistani Hajis from the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah is set to begin today with flights also landing at Multan and Islamabad.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), all arrangements are complete at the airports for the post-Hajj operation.
As per the CAA officials, the Hajis will return home onboard over 250 flights in toal.
Over 35,000 Hajis will head home on board Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) 171 flights.
The national flag carrier’s special flights will transport pilgrims from Jeddah and Medina to various cities in Pakistan, including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot, Peshawar, Sukkur, and Quetta.
The national airline’s first flight is scheduled to land at Jinnah International Airport Karachi at 1:40 pm today.
Besides PIA, three private airlines’ flights namely Serene Air, Airblue, and Air Sial’s flights will reach Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Multan.
On the first day of the post-Hajj operation on Thursday, over 2,000 pilgrims will return to various cities.
The flight operations will continue until July 21.
Reporter Saeed Ahmad Saeed