Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has added one more sector 'Sialkot-London-Sialkot' to its network with once a week flight. This is the 10th route addition by PIA in a year. According to details, PIA with the commencement of Sialkot-London flight is now operating 20 flights per week between United Kingdom (UK) and Pakistan. The first flight PK 777 took off from Sialkot on Wednesday morning. A simple ceremony was held at Sialkot International Airport where Usman Dar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Air Commodore Shahid Qadir, Head of Security & Vigilance PIA, Nadeem Anwar Qureshi, Chairman SIAL, Chief Executive Officer SIAL, Major General Muhammad Abid Nazir (Retd), Station Manager PIA, Tariq Gulzar and senior officials of PIA and Sialkot International Airport saw off the passengers of the first flight.

Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan in his message on the launch of the flight said that the Sialkot-London flight fulfilled the long standing demand of the people of Sialkot and adjoining areas and now they would have access to direct flight with convenient timings.

The flight operation from Sialkot to London will further increase the airline revenues and help facilitating expansion of airline's cargo business. He also congratulated CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik and his team for the sincere efforts in bringing improvements in PIA and commencement of London flight operation from Sialkot.

Meanwhile, CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik said that PIA had planned to operate more flights for the convenience of passengers and expected that the Sialkot London flight would get success as the airline is offering cargo airlift facility for the businessmen of Sialkot and London. He also instructed the marketing team to provide best services to passengers and cargo business clients of Sialkot and adjoining areas and in UK.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019