PIA expands in Middle East and Pakistan with 6 new flights
Airline strengthens Gulf presence with services to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is expanding its international and domestic networks with six new flight routes, enhancing connections to the Middle East and within the South Asian country.
The initiative, starting later this month, aims to meet the growing demand for air travel.
The new routes primarily serve Middle Eastern destinations, including Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Dammam, and Jeddah, reflecting the airline's strategic focus on the Gulf region.
Sialkot to Bahrain
Beginning January 20, PIA will launch twice-weekly flights between Sialkot and Bahrain.
Sialkot to Doha
This will be followed by weekly services from Sialkot to Doha on January 21, and additional flights from Sialkot to Jeddah starting the same day.
Lahore to Kuwait
PIA is also strengthening its operations from Lahore with new weekly flights to Kuwait commencing January 25, and twice-weekly flights to Dammam beginning January 22.
Karachi to Peshawar
On the domestic front, PIA is adding a third weekly flight between Karachi and Peshawar, also starting January 25, offering greater convenience to travellers.
To support this expansion, PIA has restored multiple aircraft to service, including a Boeing 777, Airbus 320, and ATR. These additions bring the operational fleet to 19 aircraft, with a goal of increasing to 24 in the next six months.
Compliance with international standards
This expansion follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) recent lifting of restrictions on PIA flights to Europe and the UK. The airline resumed services to these regions, further enhancing its global footprint.
With a renewed focus on punctuality, PIA is consistently meeting its 90 per cent on-time performance target, according to the spokesperson, who emphasised the airline’s commitment to offering convenient and reliable travel options for passengers.