PIA will restore direct flights to United States: PIA spokesman

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has received a green signal from U.S. officials to start direct flights to the country from May this year, the spokesman for the national flag carrier said on Wednesday.

After two years of negotiations between the U.S. government and the national airline, finally, the approval was given, the spokesman added, “Originally, three flights a week will take off for New York, however with time the number will increase.

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As per PIA representative, the U.S. Transport Security Authority conducted an audit of the PIA fleet’s security measures and at the airports, reviewing the flights departing from Karachi and Islamabad, the U.S. Homeland Security also visited Pakistan in this context, he said.

Earlier in October 2017, Because of security concerns, the US did not allow any direct flight to its airspace from a Pakistani airport. The PIA had canceled its flights to the US due to rising operating costs and in an attempt to reduce the losses it faced.