Italian airline hopes to start flights in Pakistan

KARACHI: A private Italian airline Neos has expressed interest in operating flights between Pakistan and Italy, sources said.

According to sources, the Neos airline has contacted the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate direct flights between the two countries.

The airline will operate weekly flights to Lahore in the first phase and will expand its operations to other countries, say sources.

The Italian airline will launch operations immediately after getting permission from the Pakistan aviation authority.

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Earlier, the national air carrier of Azerbaijan (AZAL) announced to launch flights to Pakistan from September 20, 2023.

According to a spokesman of Azerbaijan Embassy, Flights will be operated to the capital of Pakistan – Islamabad, as well as to its largest cities – Lahore and Karachi.

The spokesperson further said that these three cities are important historical and cultural centers of Pakistan which makes them very interesting to visit.

Flights from Baku to Islamabad will be performed on Wednesdays and Saturdays, to Lahore – on Mondays and Fridays, and to Karachi – on Thursdays and Sundays.

Skardu Airport to be upgraded to international standards

In another news, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decided to upgrade Skardu Airport to international standards, in a bid to promote tourism.

CAA Director General Khaqan Murtaza said that the Pakistan CAA has planned an open sky policy for Skardu Airport to promote tourism.

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He also said that the authority has started preparations to upgrade Skardu Airport to international standards. “We want to make northern regions a center of tourism even in winter,” he added. He pointed out that Saudi aviation officials – who visited Pakistan recently – expressed pleasant surprise after seeing the ‘beauty of the northern region’.

Khaqan Murtaza further said that the Saudi authorities have shown interest in launching direct flights to Skardu. Skardu got the status of an international airport after landing of the first international flight of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) in August 2023.