PIA Plans To Expand The Network In Afghanistan

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is in dialogs with the bordering country to expand its flight operations to Afghanistan’s other destinations. The focus is to increase cargo business to expedite trade between the two countries.

According to a report delivered by the national flag carrier, PIA Chief Executive officer (CEO), Air Marshal (Retd) Arshad Malik had a meeting with Afghan Aviation Head, Dr. Qasim Wafaizada, in Kabul. The matter of discussion was discovering avenues for increasing air links between the two countries.

The top PIA official told Afghan authorities that PIA was scheduling to begin flights to/from Kandahar and Mazar Shareef and was exploring avenues for increasing air cargo operations.

PIA chief also insisted Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan confirm swift guaranteed visa for PIA passengers coming to Pakistan. He briefed this during his visit to Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul.

He also met with officials of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and suggested the expansion of PIA’s network to the business centers of Afghanistan.

Facing losses over billions, the national flag carrier has been striving hard financially for a long time, after several flights were grounded in March last year due to an ongoing pandemic.

Nevertheless, according to the PIA’s improvement plan, the year 2020 would be a balanced year followed by a return to success in 2023.

The plan, which has not been shared publicly, noted that PIA’s share of international flight traffic into Pakistan had dropped to 27% in 2019, down from 42% a few years back.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is in dialogs with the bordering country to expand its flight operations to Afghanistan’s other destinations. The focus is to increase cargo business to expedite trade between the two countries.

According to a report delivered by the national flag carrier, PIA Chief Executive officer (CEO), Air Marshal (Retd) Arshad Malik had a meeting with Afghan Aviation Head, Dr. Qasim Wafaizada, in Kabul. The matter of discussion was discovering avenues for increasing air links between the two countries.

The top PIA official told Afghan authorities that PIA was scheduling to begin flights to/from Kandahar and Mazar Shareef and was exploring avenues for increasing air cargo operations.

PIA chief also insisted Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan confirm swift guaranteed visa for PIA passengers coming to Pakistan. He briefed this during his visit to Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul.

He also met with officials of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and suggested the expansion of PIA’s network to the business centers of Afghanistan.

Facing losses over billions, the national flag carrier has been striving hard financially for a long time, after several flights were grounded in March last year due to an ongoing pandemic.

Nevertheless, according to the PIA’s improvement plan, the year 2020 would be a balanced year followed by a return to success in 2023.

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The plan, which has not been shared publicly, noted that PIA’s share of international flight traffic into Pakistan had dropped to 27% in 2019, down from 42% a few years back.