PIA to resume direct flights to USA from next year

• The national carrier is in the final phase of preparations and will start direct flights to USA from April 2020.
• The monthly operational losses of the airlines had been reduced to Rs1.5 billion.

After recording reduction in operation losses, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would initiate direct flights to the United States from 2020.

As per local media reports, the national carrier is in the final phase of preparations and will start direct flights to the USA from April 2020. The reports state that PIA has sought permission from American officials for it besides providing related documents and plans.

PIA shut down its direct fights operations in the USA due to financial losses, an aspect which was brought under control.

Just days ago, Chief Executive Officer of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik informed that the monthly operational losses of the airlines had been reduced to Rs 1.5 billion against more than Rs 3 billion monthly losses before he assumed the charge.

“The reduction in operational losses became possible only due to day-night efforts of PIA team comprising those officers who have been working at PIA since last many years," he said, while speaking at an interactive session with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here at the chamber.

The PIA Chief said still a lot needed to be done to deal with PIA's liabilities as whatever is being earned by the airline was mostly consumed on debt servicing, he said.