After Qatar, PIA suspends flights to Italy

Published March 11, 2020
Spokesman says passengers having nationality of any European country could travel to Paris via PIA flights. — Aurora/File
Spokesman says passengers having nationality of any European country could travel to Paris via PIA flights. — Aurora/File

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airline has decided to temporarily suspend flight operations to Italy to keep a check on coronavirus.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said in a press release that the national carrier had temporarily suspended its flight operation to and from Milan till March 31.

However, the spokesman said the passengers having nationality of any European country could travel to Paris by PIA flights.

He said on reaching Paris, the passengers will have to manage their onward journey on their own.  The passengers, who had reserved their seats for Pakistan from Milan, would have to travel to Paris on their own to catch a PIA flight.

Passengers wanting to travel to Paris have to give an undertaking that they will not claim any facility from PIA, the spokesman said.

After undertaking, the passengers willing to travel from Pakistan to Paris will be issued boarding cards.

Those passengers who do not have nationality, tourist visa or residence permit of any European country or any other travel document will not be able to travel to Milan. And those who do not want to travel to Paris will be able to get their ticket refunded without charges.

The spokesman said all PIA offices have been facilitating their customers, adding that the airline apologises for the inconvenience caused due to flight suspension.

PIA had already suspended flight operation for Iran and Qatar in the wake of coronavirus spread.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Tax amendments
Updated 20 Dec, 2024

Tax amendments

Bureaucracy gimmicks have not produced results, will not do so in the future.
Cricket breakthrough
20 Dec, 2024

Cricket breakthrough

IT had been made clear to Pakistan that a Champions Trophy without India was not even a distant possibility, even if...
Troubled waters
20 Dec, 2024

Troubled waters

LURCHING from one crisis to the next, the Pakistani state has been consistent in failing its vulnerable citizens....
Madressah oversight
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Madressah oversight

Bill should be reconsidered and Directorate General of Religious Education, formed to oversee seminaries, should not be rolled back.
Kurram’s misery
Updated 19 Dec, 2024

Kurram’s misery

The state must recognise that allowing such hardship to continue undermines its basic duty to protect citizens’ well-being.
Hiking gas rates
19 Dec, 2024

Hiking gas rates

IMPLEMENTATION of a new Ogra recommendation to increase the gas prices by an average 8.7pc or Rs142.45 per mmBtu in...