China grants operating license to PIA for two more stations

BEIJING: China has granted Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) two more operating licenses, for Guangzhou and Xian in addition to Beijing. Passenger flights to and from these stations can now be scheduled by the national flag carrier.

According to PIA Country Manager Qadir Bux Sangi, the airline has now been granted two more operating licences by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) allowing it to conduct flights between Pakistan and both Chinese cities.

He said that as per the current standard operating procedure of CAAC, international carriers can operate one weekly flight for China. PIA is operating PK854-855 ISB-XIY-PEK-ISB by using Xian’s first entry point for Beijing as per CDC approval of the Xian government.

“After the change in the current standard operating procedure of CAAC, we have an option to start our scheduled flights for Guangzhou and Xian also,” he added.

Responding to a question, he said the national flag carrier has also applied for the acquisition of an operating licence for Chengdu station which is under consideration and hopefully, PIA will get its approval next month.

About the resumption of PIA’s weekly Islamabad-Xian-Beijing-Islamabad passenger flights which are currently suspended due to COVID-19 situation, the country manager said that the local government authorities in Xian have been requested permission to resume the flights to Xian as per the previous schedule.

“We are waiting for the formal approval for resumption of flights so that we can facilitate the travellers from both countries,” he added.