Summary
- Pakistan International Airlines resumes flights to Beijing, China, after a brief pause, expanding its network to more destinations in China.
- The flights will occur every Sunday and are expected to cater to students, offering a 20% discount and generous baggage allowances.
- PIA’s agreement with a Chinese-based airline allows passengers to connect with several cities in China via Beijing, providing more travel options.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Sunday reintroduced service to Beijing, China, from its hub in Islamabad, Pakistan, with one flight per week. The service reportedly expands the carrier’s network to greater than 15 additional destinations in China because of an interline agreement with a partner airline.
The flights will occur every Sunday despite the service experiencing temporary and somewhat unknown pauses all year long. Resuming flights comes about eight months before PIA will rejoice a milestone of 60 years of service to China.
“Resuming flight operation”
The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported that PIA restarted the service to Beijing on Sunday. Flightradar24.com confirmed the APP’s report with data indicating that PK854, operated by a Boeing 777-200, departed Islamabad International Airport (ISB) at 11:21 and arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) at 19:23.
Photo: Mike Fuchslocher/Shutterstock
On June twenty first, a PIA official confirmed that the airline would restart its operation in an announcement to the APP.
“We’re pleased to announce that the national flag carrier is resuming flight operation to China ranging from August 06.”
Temporary pauses
It’s unclear when exactly PIA last paused its Beijing operation or what prompted the airline to accomplish that. Data shows the flight last occurred on March twenty sixth, in line with Flightradar24.com. Nonetheless, previous data also displays that the flight was planned on April 2nd, May seventh, May 14th, and May twenty first, however the status of those flights stays as “unknown,” possibly suggesting the flights didn’t occur.
While it is clear that PK854 was resumed on Sunday, other sources who credited the APP say PIA has been operating the flight since June. Every day Times reported that PIA resumed weekly flights from Islamabad to Xian and Beijing on June eleventh, while SAMMA said in a report on June ninth that the airline
Photo: sockagphoto/Shutterstock
The return flight PK855 departed from PEK at 21:15 but was diverted to Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan, in line with Flightradar24.com. The explanation for the diversion stays unclear, but in line with Bilal Afzal, PIA’s Country Manager who spoke to the APP, there have been greater than 200 passengers onboard. Each PK854 and PK855 are currently scheduled for next Sunday, August thirteenth.
Afzal also said that passengers may benefit from the service resuming to Beijing by connecting to 16 cities in China via PIA’s partnership with Air China. The cities include Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Changchun, and others.
Catering to students
It is for certain that PIA expects the service resuming will cater to students. Afzal reportedly said the airline is offering a 20% discount for college kids with a free allowance for baggage of 80 Kg (176 lbs) in economy class and 100 Kg (220 lbs) in executive flights between Pakistan and China. The free baggage allowance also reportedly applies to non-students.
Afzal added.
One Pakistani scholar who spoke to the APP said the discount would help PIA successfully attract more people, whether working professionals or students, to travel and meet their families more often.
In April of next 12 months, PIA will rejoice six many years of connecting Pakistan and China, in line with the APP.