Pakistan International Airlines expanded its air service to China, opening a new route between Islamabad and Urumqi. Its inaugural flight (Airbus-310), carrying 54 passengers, including 12 crewmembers, was extended a warm welcome, when it landed at Urumqi international airport.
The return flight, having the capacity of 190 passengers, was fully packed, when it left here for Islamabad on Friday evening. By operating the new flight, PIA has met the long-standing demand of the business community, who hoped it would give a big boost to trade interaction between the friendly countries.
"We consider the flight-operation on Urumqi-Islamabad route commercially viable as well. The national carrier will have two weekly flights on Friday and Monday," said Zahid Afridi, PIA's General Manager in China.
Fare on this route is also very competitive, almost the same, being charged by China Southern Airlines, that operate three flights a week between two countries.
All the arrangements, including handling passengers at the airport, were excellent and passengers felt comfortable travelling by PIA, said a Pakistani businessman, who arrived here to attend Urumqi international fair. The passengers of the inaugural flight were also presented special souvenirs.
The flight took about two-and-a-half hours to reach the capital of China's Xinjiang province, after flying over Himalayas and other high mountains' peaks.
Those who accompanied the inaugural flight included Federal Secretary Kashmir and Northern Affairs Rasool Bakhsh Baloch and a delegation of Sino-Pak Friendship Forum NWFP, comprising its office-bearers Qazi Shamsuddin, Tasleem Hussain and Syed Ali Nawaz Ghilani.
PIA has also decided to make arrangements with China's Southern Airlines to take the passengers from Beijing up to Urmuqi for onward travelling to Pakistan.
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