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.
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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.