PIA launches in-flight SMS, call service for long route flights

Service to be made available on PIA's Boeing-777 aircrafts which ply longer routes. Email to be introduced shortly.

Pakistan International Airlines on Wednesday launched in-flight phone call and SMS service on its Boeing-777 aircrafts, Express News reported.

PIA spokesperson Mashoor Tajwar said customers could avail the service in exchange for a nominal fee which can be paid through their credit cards. He further said the airline will start an in-flight email service very soon.

The Express Tribune had reported in December last year PIA aimed to be the country's first airline to offer Wi-fi and phone services.

PIA's Managing Director Junaid Yunus had said then that initially, the facilities will be offered on PIA’s nine Boeing-777s, which have been deployed on longer routes to Europe, US and Canada.

While Pakistan has air services agreements with 45 countries, PIA flies to just a handful of them because of shortage of aircraft.

Still, it is widely believed in the industry that PIA benefits from one of the world’s most loyal brand following. “I am convinced that our point-to-point service will help us take our share back from other carriers,” Yunus said, referring to direct international flights without any stopovers.