ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) decides to switch it’shub of international flights.
As per media reports, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is switchingits hub of international flights from Karachi to Islamabad.
This decision has been made in view of the airline’s international trafficschedule. Most of PIA’s international traffic comes from the northernareas, which is why the airline has decided to shift its hub to Islamabad.
“We have to make these changes due to demographic reasons,” says PIAspokesperson Mashhood Tajwar. He said that up to 70 percent ofinternational flights come from northern Pakistan which makes it necessaryto make Islamabad the international hub.
PIA’s international flights are mainly bound for Europe, especially London,Canada, and Kuala Lumpur. Apart from London, the airline’s otherdestinations in Europe include Spain, France, and Italy.
A majority of Pakistanis living in London belongs to Rawalpindi and Mirpur.This is possibly the reason why British Airways opted for Islamabad toresume its flights.——————————
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A large number of international flights cater to Pakistanis from Gujrat,Kharian, Jhelum, Lalamusa, Sohawa, and other areas of Punjab. People fromthese areas usually travel from Lahore or Islamabad, as these airports arecloser.
Moreover, traffic going to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, comesmainly from Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, and Sargodha. Hence,Islamabad and Lahore airports are more convenient for internationaltravelers.
Passengers these days prefer foreign airlines for booking direct flights totheir destinations to avoid flights being diverted from Karachi.
“PIA was out of the race in the previous equation,” said the spokesperson.“Many people who hail from Karachi live in London, Canada, and the US,” hesaid. “However, most expatriates from Karachi visit their country veryseldom.” Meanwhile, people from Punjab come to Pakistan a couple of timesin a year, the spokesperson said.
