Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is starting direct non-stop flights to Istanbul on November 14. In the beginning, PIA will be offering 4 weekly flights between Islamabad and Istanbul and 2 weekly flights between Lahore and Istanbul. The inaugural flight from Islamabad is scheduled for 14 November while the Lahore flight is scheduled for 15 November. Later PIA aims to start flights from Karachi as well.
- Virgin Atlantic suspends flight operations to Pakistan
- PIA to finally start flights to Istanbul from Lahore and Islamabad
- Air Sial’s 4th Airbus A320 lands at Karachi Airport
- British Airways resuming its Islamabad-London flights from 2nd August
- Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore’s main runway is opened for flight operations after 2 years
PIA will deploy its Boeing 777s on the route and this will be in direct competition with Turkish Airlines which has monopoly over the route for the past decade. Turkish Airlines flies to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and Turkish low-cost giant Pegasus Airlines is operating flights between Karachi and Istanbul. PIA already has a code share agreement with Turkish Airlines so it will give the passengers an option to transfer to the Turkish Airlines network around the world.
