SaudiGulf Airlines on Monday announced that it is starting direct flights to four destinations in Pakistan.
Taking to Twitter, the airline said it would begin operating flights between Dammam and Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Sialkot from Oct 15.
Earlier, the Chief Commercial Officer of SaudiGulf Airlines, Karim Makhlouf had said that the national carrier would begin operations in Pakistan from March 1.
He said that this was the first time that a private Saudi airline had decided to launch operations in Pakistan. Pakistan would also be the first country on the airline’s international network.
In his statement, Makhlouf had said SaudiGulf Airlines Airbus A-320 aircraft would fly the new routes.
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Comments (21) Closed
M. Saeed
Oct 09, 2018 03:08pm
Good news. PIA is already on its way out.
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Hello123
Oct 09, 2018 03:09pm
Other Airlines expanding their business portfolios and our PIA struggling with bail out packages
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
Oct 09, 2018 03:29pm
Great news for the expatriate population working in Saudi Arabia and hailing from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Keep it up and hang on tough.
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WARRIs
Oct 09, 2018 03:39pm
These are not regarded as long haul flights by any standard.. direct flights from Europe and USA would be more welcomed!!
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Khalid
Oct 09, 2018 03:50pm
While PIA is incurring huge losses, all Middle Eastern airlines are flying to every city in Pakistan and their numbers are increasing. Anyone who knows the basics of business would have done something about these routes. Just as an example, Emirates flies to London around 10 times a day (and you would find that at least 30% of the passengers are connecting from Pakistan) whereas PIA has a couple of flights to London a week. I think it is too late now. We should close down this airline and save the taxpayers billions of rupees.
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ABE
Oct 09, 2018 03:55pm
Sure, let more and more Gulf carriers to eat away at the thining slice of PIA's market share and routes.Consdering not many other countries are willing to risk flying their airliners to Paksitan, PIA is being driven out of market, effectively by these Gulf airlines as well as out of existence the way it is being mismanaged and sliding down the scale rapidly in terms of value for money and quality of service.
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Big Ben
Oct 09, 2018 04:06pm
Some foreign airlines were destined to fill the PIA gaps in service.
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Sam
Oct 09, 2018 04:06pm
How will this help PIA and Pakistan ?
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Dr Accountant
Oct 09, 2018 04:10pm
Great news for those of us living in Dammam who either fly to Islamabad or Peshawar. Our only shortest or direct options are from Bahrain, which adds a layover if taking a bus or plane (from Dammam to Bahrain and onward to Pakistan) or a bit of a drive to Bahrain airport. The long-term parking costs at Bahrain airport have also tripled over the past 2 years or so, about time that the Pakistanis residing in the Eastern province have another option.
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Pakistani
Oct 09, 2018 04:27pm
More good news for the local airlines specially PIA.
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Syed
Oct 09, 2018 04:39pm
Sad we are giving our busy routes to foreign airlines instead of PIA
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atr
Oct 09, 2018 04:50pm
What about domestic routes? When will an international airline fill in the void left by Shaheen Air.
#FrequentFlyer
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Shah
Oct 09, 2018 05:05pm
All airline promote them selves with either 1. Service or 2. Price.
PIA has no service but high prices. there is a clear mismatch. Government should establish PIA online booking system for all passengers regardless of where they are as well as a dedicated site within the larger PIA website where you can add your complains.
Unless PIA management do something with service they will all be out of job soon.
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Magnanimous approach
Oct 09, 2018 05:24pm
Welcome step. More direct flights needed from Karachi to UK, USA . Such direct flights will save time & hassles felt by passengers.
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Rafiq
Oct 09, 2018 05:38pm
We also need London to Pakistan direct flight besides PIA.
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Saleem Chandasir
Oct 09, 2018 05:50pm
@Khalid similar case in the US and Canada, Qatar Airways, Eremites and Etihad are hauling Pakistanis, PIA should have taken this Opportunity
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Ali
Oct 09, 2018 06:03pm
Yes, let the better airline win passengers and all but failed airline like PIA lose them. Aviation is highly competitive business. Though its not the fault of PIA as it was political meddling and corruption by PPP and PML governments which destroyed the airline. PM Imran Khan must give PIA "top" priority and appoint professional management for re-structuring the national flag carrier which has the potential of again achieving profitability to become "Great People To Fly With".
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Vikas
Oct 09, 2018 06:29pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad The expat population staying here has yet to send 2000 Dollars back to Pakistan. 100 for the dam and 1000 for the balance of Payment fund which of course on their own locals cannot afford. Why will they come to Pakistan?
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zak
Oct 09, 2018 06:30pm
Shows, other countries are seeing benefit of CPEC and its potential. This is just after the Saudi investment team left.
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SHAHID SATTAR
Oct 09, 2018 08:47pm
Small airports are very good for smuggling and so are small ports including dry ports. The Sambrial dry port at Sialkot was the first of its kind established in the country. It changed the pattern of doing imports and exports business in the country in no time as all the smugglers shifted to doing business from this dry port. It was convenient both for the business people and the customs and other agencies men who could transact business at fair terms. With the other dry ports following the business here is greatly affected. It is nice to know that it is going to be good again through the foreign airlines joining the city with international destinations, bringing in both, human traffic and materials on demand.
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Concerned Citizen
Oct 10, 2018 07:04pm
Filling the gap left by Shaheen!
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