PIA and Air China sign agreement for flights to 16 Chinese cities

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Air China have entered into a partnership agreement, which will see PIA flights being operated from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to 16 cities of China.

The flights are set to commence from the next month, providing Pakistani traders with convenient access to all major commercial and industrial cities in China.

According to a spokesperson for the PIA, Pakistani travelers with PIA tickets to Beijing will now have the option to travel to an additional 16 cities in China.

The PIA will facilitate the transportation of passengers from Pakistan to Beijing.

From Beijing, Air China will take travelers to the other 16 cities in China, including Shanghai, as part of the ticketing arrangement, the spokesperson said.

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This partnership between PIA and Air China is expected to strengthen economic ties and promote connectivity between Pakistan and China, fostering increased trade and travel opportunities for both nations.

The PIA and the Air China partnership agreement is part of the broader China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative, which aims to enhance connectivity, trade, and cooperation between the two countries.

The national flag carrier also signed a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines in 2019, which allows PIA passengers to travel to 11 destinations in Europe and North America via Istanbul.

The PIA also entered into a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways in 2020, which enables PIA passengers to access 35 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America via Abu Dhabi.

The national flag carrier also resumed its flights to the United Kingdom in 2021, after being banned by the UK Civil Aviation Authority in 2020 due to safety concerns.

The PIA is now operating flights to London, Birmingham, and Manchester using a wet lease arrangement with a Portuguese charter airline, Hi Fly.

Pakistan’s national flag carrier is also planning to expand its network to other regions, such as Central Asia, Africa, and North America, in the near future.

The PIA is also exploring the possibility of acquiring new aircraft to modernize its fleet and improve its service quality.