PIA prepared to run regular flights to Kabul: CEO

National carrier only running chartered flights to Kabul for the time being

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan International Airlines is fully prepared to resume its flights to neighbouring Afghanistan, the CEO of the national carrier said on Friday.

Speaking to journalists, Arshad Malik said that PIA was fully prepared for the Kabul operation but added that war insurance charges were one of the impediments in resuming regular flights to the Afghan capital.

“There are security and radar issues at the Kabul airport as well.”

He said that he also took up the matter with Afghan officials in a recently held meeting, adding that a solution is expected to be reached by the end of the month.

Last month, the national carrier suspended flights to Kabul over Taliban authorities' “unprofessional attitude”.

“Our flights frequently faced undue delays because of the unprofessional attitude of the Kabul aviation authorities,” Abdullah Hafeez Khan, the PIA spokesman told AFP.

Read PIA inducts fuel-efficient aircraft to fight losses

The route will remain suspended until “the situation becomes conducive,” he added.

Flights to the Gulf important

The CEO stressed that flights between Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries held great importance in the realm of the international sector. “Around 40% of the profit is generated from operations to Saudi Arabia,” he added.

He hoped that If these two sectors were successfully completed, the airline would be able to repair the damages it incurred after 2019.

“The suspension has led to losses.”

He also revealed that PIA is mulling to induct three new planes in its fleet next year. The planes will be the 2017 model.