PIA launches new direct flight route from Lahore to Baku
Pakistan International Airlines
(PIA) has officially launched a new direct flight route from Lahore to Baku,
Azerbaijan’s capital, under flight number PK159, the national carrier announced
on Sunday.
This inaugural flight marks a
significant expansion in PIA’s international network and reflects the airline’s
ongoing strategy to strengthen connectivity between Pakistan and Central Asia.
In a statement, PIA said, “This
initiative highlights the deepening diplomatic and economic relations between
Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and aims to boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people
connections.”
To celebrate the launch, a special
inauguration ceremony was held at the International Departure Lounge of Allama
Iqbal International Airport, Lahore. The event was chaired by Defence Minister
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and attended by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to
Pakistan, H.E. Khazar Farhadov.
Read More Pakistanis
can now travel to Baku through direct flights of PIA from Lahore and Karachi
According to a 2024 report by Azerbaijan’s Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan has emerged as a top travel destination for Pakistani tourists, with nearly 250,000 visitors in 2023, as reported by a local travel agency.
This launch follows PIA’s recent
milestone of resuming flights to Europe after more than four years. In January,
the airline restarted direct service from Islamabad to Paris, making it the
only Pakistani carrier currently offering direct flights to the European Union.
PIA had been banned from operating
in the EU, UK, and US since June 2020, following a tragic crash in Karachi’s
Model Colony that killed nearly 100 people. The incident, attributed to human
error, sparked a broader scandal involving questionable pilot licenses, leading
to international scrutiny.
Prime Minister welcomes PIA flights
to Baku
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has
expressed his satisfaction over the launch of direct flights by Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) from Lahore to Baku, calling it a positive step
for Pakistan’s tourism industry.
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He noted that similar direct flight routes to other friendly nations are expected to be launched soon, following the pattern of the Lahore-Baku connection.
Calling it a significant diplomatic
milestone, the Prime Minister highlighted the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan
and Azerbaijan, stating, “Azerbaijan is one of our closest allies in the
region. We aim to strengthen cooperation in tourism and other sectors.”
Source: Dawn