The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced the restoration of eight international routes in the last six months of this year, according to national media citing details provided by the Aviation Ministry.
National media reports that the Aviation Ministry has told the National Assembly about the restored routes, which include flights from Islamabad to Paris, Turbat to Sharjah and Al Ain, Quetta to Jeddah, Gwadar to Muscat, Lahore to Kuwait and Madinah, and Faisalabad to Jeddah.
The Aviation Ministry stated that the Islamabad-Paris route resumed after a gap of almost four and a half years and five months, with Boeing 777 aircraft operating the flights, while the Turbat-Sharjah route was restored after four months. Meanwhile, the Turbat-Al Ain route resumed operations after five months.
With ATR aircraft operating the flights, the Gwadar to Muscat route was restored after 13 months. Likewise, the Quetta to Jeddah route resumed operations after three years and four months. With Airbus A320 aircraft operating the flights, the Faisalabad-Jeddah and Faisalabad-Madinah routes were restored after three years and four months, according to the Ministry.
Authorities stated that the Lahore-Kuwait route was restored after seven months, with Airbus A320 aircraft being used for the flights. The Aviation Ministry stated that due to a shortage of aircraft, seven routes were suspended, during which the European Union had restricted the Islamabad-Paris route.
