ISLAMABAD: Islamabad International Airport facilitated a record 45,160 pilgrims during Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operations this year, airport authorities said on Friday, highlighting expanded flight handling capacity supported by the use of digital baggage-tracking technology during one of the country’s busiest travel periods.
Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operations began on Apr. 19 and concluded on May 21, with airports across the country handling thousands of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
Islamabad airport handled 284 Hajj flights during the operation, including departures under both the government and private Hajj schemes, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority.
“RFID technology was also utilized by the Saudi team at check-in counters to support baggage tracing and handling procedures at destinations in Saudi Arabia,” the authority said in a statement.
RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, uses electronically stored data and scannable tags to track baggage movement and improve handling efficiency, reducing the risk of lost or misplaced luggage during large-scale travel operations.
Under the government Hajj scheme and Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route initiative, 142 flights transported 37,072 pilgrims, while another 142 flights under the private Hajj scheme carried 8,088 pilgrims.
The airport also completed its seventh Makkah Route operation, a Saudi-led initiative that allows pilgrims to complete immigration formalities before departure from Pakistan, reducing processing time upon arrival in the Kingdom.
Airport authorities said Islamabad handled as many as eight Hajj flights simultaneously during peak operations, including four concurrent Makkah Route flights alongside routine commercial traffic.
Special arrangements remained in place throughout the operation, including dedicated check-in counters, immigration and security facilities, prayer areas, refreshments and support services for elderly and special-needs pilgrims.
Pakistan annually sends tens of thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, which draws Muslims from around the world to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
