The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) commenced its first A-320 flight to Skardu carrying over 100 passengers aboard.
Previously smaller aircraft – Fokkers, ATRs and B-737s – linked Islamabad with Skardu.
“The flight arrived at Skardu airport on Thursday morning. Among the passengers, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem and DG Civil Aviation Authority, Air Marshal (r) Muhammad Yousuf travelled on the flight from Islamabad to Skardu and back,” a statement issued by the PIA said.
“The PIA will now operate daily flights to and from Skardu and Islamabad connecting the northern areas with the major cities of Pakistan,” Azeem said.
The scenic natural beauty and views of some of the world’s highest peaks attract many tourists to Skardu. Earlier this month, the PIA ‘dry’ leased another A-320 to add to their existing fleet of seven aircraft. The additional aircraft bring the number of A-320′s in Pakistan’s fleet to eight.