Chinese officials have given Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) two new operating licences, for Guangzhou and Xian, in addition to Beijing.
PIA has previously only had a Beijing-specific operating licence. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has now given PIA two more operating licences for Guangzhou and Xian Stations, allowing the airline to begin scheduled passenger flights between the two cities, according to PIA Country Manager Qadir Bux Sangi.
International carriers can operate one weekly flight to China, according to CAAC’s current standard operating procedure, he said.
In response to a question, he stated that the national flag carrier has also requested for the grant of an operating licence for Chengdu Station, which is currently under review and should be approved next month.
He claimed that PIA has received authorisation from Chinese authorities to conduct chartered cargo flights to Kunming and Shenzhen, and that approval for Kashgar (Xinjiang) is in the works.
He also said that the chartered cargo flights to several Chinese cities will aid in the expansion of trade and commercial activity between the two countries.
