In a first, US allows PIA to operate direct flights to the country
In a first, the United States allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate direct flights to the country on Thursday. The development takes place for the first time in the national flag carrier’s history.
The permission was granted by the United States Department of Transportation in a letter. The written communication was in response to a request submitted by PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik.
According to details of the letter from the US transportation department, the PIA will be allowed to operate 12 direct flights to the United States over a month-long period.
Malik had written a letter to the US ambassador in this regard earlier in the week.
The letter, also addressed to the US Department of State, was seeking permission to operate PIA special flights to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in the US amid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Malik had said that the PIA was actively pursuing approval for resumption of flight operations to the US as the virus crisis had created a situation that necessitated the conduct of urgent air service.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bokhari had announced that Pakistan was operating flights to ensure the safe return of stranded Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, UK, Qatar, Turkey and Sudan.
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