Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has completed preparations for Hajj 2026 operations, with pre-Hajj flights set to begin next month. Thousands of pilgrims will travel to Saudi Arabia under both government and private schemes.
PIA has finalised arrangements for its pre-Hajj operations, which will run from April 18 to May 21. During this phase, the national carrier will transport more than 60,000 pilgrims to the holy land through around 200 to 202 flights.
According to sources, PIA will operate flights to Madinah and Jeddah in the first phase of the operation. Direct flights will be available from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Quetta, Faisalabad, and Multan to facilitate pilgrims across the country.
This year, 49,000 pilgrims will travel under the government Hajj scheme, while 11,000 will perform Hajj through private operators. Overall, a total of 119,000 pilgrims will perform Hajj under the government scheme, including 67,230 men and 51,846 women.
Post-Hajj operations
PIA will use Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft for the Hajj operation. Post-Hajj operations are scheduled to begin on May 30 and will continue until June 30 to bring pilgrims back to Pakistan.
The Hajj 2026 flight schedule has been officially released, with operations running from April 18 to May 21. A total of 468 Hajj flights will be operated from eight major cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Multan, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Sukkur.
On the first day of operations, four flights will depart for Madinah. For the first 15 days, all pilgrims will be transported exclusively to Madinah before flights to Jeddah begin.
According to the schedule, 186 flights have been allocated for Madinah, while 282 flights will operate to Jeddah. Flights to Jeddah are set to commence from May 4.
City-wise flight breakdown
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has provided a detailed breakdown of departures from major cities. A total of 139 flights will depart from Islamabad, 120 from Karachi, and 104 from Lahore.
Additionally, 18 flights are scheduled from Quetta, 34 from Multan, 26 from Sialkot, 23 from Faisalabad, and five from Sukkur.
Alongside PIA, other airlines, including Airblue, Air Sial, and Saudia Airlines, will also take part in the Hajj operation. This collaboration aims to ensure smooth transportation of pilgrims during the busy travel period.
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