Facilitation: Direct flights from Faisalabad to China demanded

Passenger traffic has doubled on the route after CPEC

FAISALABAD: The industrialists of Faisalabad have demanded the start of direct flights to Chinese cities in order to facilitate frequent travellers between the two countries.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) programme has almost doubled the passenger load on this route but there is no direct flight from Faisalabad and frequent travellers have to use the alternative route via Thailand.

“This lengthy route not only adds an additional financial burden but also consumes almost double time compared to the direct flight,” said an industrialist.

CPEC projects have also led to an increase in the number of Chinese working in Pakistan, who travel regularly, besides the local businessmen.

Shedding light on Chinese investments, the industrialists pointed out that China was investing billions of dollars in Faisalabad but there was no direct flight from the city to China.

For instance, the Shandong Ruyi Group is investing $2 billion in Faisalabad and is setting up Pakistan’s largest spinning unit that will consist of 600,000 spindles.

Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Syed Zia Alamdar said local industrialists had played an important role in convincing foreign airlines to start direct international flights to and from Faisalabad.

At present, five airlines including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are operating direct international flights from Faisalabad to various international destinations.

“Faisalabad is a densely populated city and people from surrounding districts also regularly use its airport for travel; a large number of them is directly related to the business of import and export of goods, while others work in the Middle East and other countries,” said Alamdar.

According to an initial study, enough passenger traffic is available from Faisalabad that wants to travel to China.

Talking about the inconvenience of indirect flights, he particularly mentioned the stopover of eight hours, which was very pinching on return from China.

In view of adequate number of passengers, the international airlines operating from Faisalabad should start direct flights to China, the FCCI president suggested.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2016.

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