Pakistan International Airlines to start direct flights from Salalah to Lahore

Muscat: In a huge relief to the large Pakistani community spread across the Dhofar Governorate, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to start direct flights from Salalah to Lahore.
The first historic flight from Salalah to Pakistan will operate on December 1, fulfilling a longstanding demand of nearly 70,000 Pakistanis who have had to endure an arduous 14-hour journey to Muscat by road and at least four hours of wait to catch a flight to Pakistan.
“Salalah has been a virgin territory for us as no airline from Pakistan has ever landed here. PIA is happy to start its weekly flight operations every Thursday and Monday in this very important sector for us,” said Shahzad Paracha, country manager, PIA Oman, while talking to the Times of Oman recently.
“Starting flights to Karachi and Islamabad from Salalah will be our next priority as we wish to provide our customers in Salalah convenient connections to big cities like Multan and Faisalabad.”
The first PIA flight to Salalah will depart Lahore on Thursday, December 1 at 12.30 pm and arrive at Salalah Airport at 3.30 pm. The same flight will then leave for Lahore an hour later at 4.30 pm, landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore at 9 pm.
The second weekly flight will depart from Lahore on Sunday, December 4 at 9.15 pm and arrive in Salalah on Monday, December 5 at 12.15 am. The same flight will then leave Salalah at 1.15 am and arrive in Lahore at 5.45 am.
The airbus A320 plane operating in the sector will have a capacity of 158 passengers, with 8 Club Class seats and 150 seats in the economy class.