US has 'no imminent plans' for flight operations to Pakistan
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The United States Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday said there were “no imminent plans” for starting direct flights between Pakistan and the US.
According to a press release from the embassy, officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — the US government agency that oversees airport and air carrier security — will visit Islamabad airport, view Pakistan’s aviation security infrastructure, and meet with their Pakistani civil aviation counterparts this week.
However, the statement goes on to add “there are no imminent plans for direct flights between Pakistan and the United States.”
According to the press release, TSA officials were in Pakistan as part of the US Mission to Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic ties and air connectivity between the United States and Pakistan.
TSA Attaché Daniel McQuaid was quoted in the press release as saying:
“Secure international air travel is essential to facilitate trade and connections and fostering stronger bonds between the United States and Pakistan.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority as we explore additional areas of cooperation and the possibility of capacity development.”
Reports in local media had earlier suggested that the TSA team's visit was linked to the commencement of direct flights between the US and Pakistan.
Earlier this year, on January 22, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Abdul Hafeez had said Pakistan was expecting to resume direct flights to the US in May this year "subject to a final clearance by the US Transportation Security Administration."
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On DawnNews
Comments (106) Closed
Mar 10, 2020 02:39pm
Congrats
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Mar 10, 2020 02:41pm
All the grapes turned sour.
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Mar 10, 2020 02:44pm
Due to Ik effort flights to UK will resume soon.
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Mar 10, 2020 02:45pm
No International airline wants to associate with Pakistan
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Mar 10, 2020 02:46pm
In the presence of PIA, Emirates, Al Etihad, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Jordan's Al Alia, Turkish Air and so many other Airlines already operating satisfactorily, there is no need of an American Airline to fly direct from a U.S. destination to any place in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Mar 10, 2020 02:57pm
This news would tell PIA that its plan to buy 8 new planes to extend its direct flights to the US, is premature and bound to fail. Critical and realistic reviews of the plans are needed.
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Mar 10, 2020 03:08pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, No PIA Direct Flight to USA, That’s what they decided
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Mar 10, 2020 03:18pm
Who cares if US airlines don't land in Islamabad. Already middle eastern airlines & BOAC are providing good service.
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Mar 10, 2020 03:24pm
Why delay ? After all BOAC had approved security level at Islamabad airport , resumed flights. As far Americans , behind every bush an enemy of the US is waiting to ambush them.
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Mar 10, 2020 03:45pm
Thank you PMIK.
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Mar 10, 2020 03:59pm
Excellent news.
We in North America's would love to connect from Canada or US rather Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Doha. I hope TSA findings allow North American Air Lines to think about a direct route.
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Mar 10, 2020 03:59pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you did not understand the news.
It is for PIA or any other carrier flying directly to US soil from Pakistan.
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Mar 10, 2020 04:12pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
That’s not the point. This isn’t about an American Airlines flying to/from Pakistan, but Any airline wishing to fly direct to the US. Since 9/11, The US will not grant direct flights from certain countries due to the risk of security lapses or an inherent weakness in the infrastructure.
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Mar 10, 2020 04:17pm
Flights from a super power must start from Islamabad.
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Mar 10, 2020 04:21pm
@Gairu - When there are so many other options to choose from, what is so bad if this option has not materialized.
What is at loss?
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Mar 10, 2020 04:26pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, be careful what you wish for.
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Mar 10, 2020 04:40pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, PIA is not well prepared.
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Mar 10, 2020 04:55pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, but why they are not doing that have you asked them?
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Mar 10, 2020 04:58pm
What about CPEC?
What happened to it?
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Mar 10, 2020 04:59pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, oil is way below $40. All those airlines you mention may not be around for too long.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:02pm
Good steps to bolster ties between Pakistan and US. Trade relations are essential for the development of both counties, especially for Pakistan.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:02pm
Another feather in the cap of PMIK.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:03pm
@Gairu, Not really. These things take time and it will open as long as there is demand for a direct flight to JFK.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:06pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, They are saying that they do not want direct flights from Pakistan if you understand that.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:10pm
Apart from security it’s a business decision.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:11pm
Which same person wants to visit Pakistan?
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Mar 10, 2020 05:11pm
People should stop the duplicity. You can't be burning the American flag chanting death to america and next day standing in line hoping to get a US visa.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:20pm
NY - Pakistan routes will not be profitable for US airlines because there is lack of economic activity in Pakistan and US issues very few tourist and business visas to Pakistanis. This route will also increase security threat for US and the risk of drugs which PIA is famous for.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:38pm
@Gairu, thanks to PTI failed policy and hype making and when results are this they usually put blame on others.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:38pm
@Thuthuri, correction it's a 'Sane' not 'Same'
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Mar 10, 2020 05:38pm
Even Pak origin expats dont travel by PIA!
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Mar 10, 2020 05:50pm
@zulfiqar, both countries...
I mean really?
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Mar 10, 2020 05:56pm
@Thuthuri, ask all the Indians crossing from Kartarpur border into Pakistan. Also all those who fly in from overseas. Ask prince William and Kate as well.
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Mar 10, 2020 05:58pm
PIA is gouging travellers from North America with exorbitant rates, about time they face competition.
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Mar 10, 2020 06:00pm
@Ajay, Oil makes about 20% of an airlines costs, lower oil price means more profit. Yes, if you are an oil oriented economy, lower oil prices hurt, but for majority of the world, lower oil price is a boon.
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Mar 10, 2020 06:08pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, British air ways too
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Mar 10, 2020 06:08pm
@Thuthuri, Same sane people who are avoiding India after Delhi massacre.
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Mar 10, 2020 06:09pm
@Ajay, in your dreams yes but they will be around
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Mar 10, 2020 06:10pm
@Anand Yesu, If you understand what they are saying its that they are looking at security arrangements but flights will not start right away. There are lots of procedures before flights will be okayed. If your logic to this article is tested, why are they here in the first place to see security arrangements for direct flights?
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Mar 10, 2020 06:12pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, the airlines you mentioned also need TSA approval to fly to the US .You missed the message because this was about any airline including those you’ve mentioned to fly direct to the US
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Mar 10, 2020 06:15pm
Pakistan has not get its act together at any front, Pakistan needs to improve its reputation all around the world, concrete actions are necessary, some steps here and there is not enough. please be serious, Imran Khan, this is up to you now.
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Mar 10, 2020 06:23pm
Once PIA was Asia's number one airline. Now fast becoming the lowest.
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Mar 10, 2020 06:30pm
@Indo-Arya, irrelevant, it’s all about dollars and cents.
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Mar 10, 2020 06:48pm
I am not sure who linked TSA with flights? These are not planned by TSA (Transportation Security Administration): their job is to provide security at the airports and for the flights. Any flights plan has to come from the airlines, be it from USA or anywhere for that matter.
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Mar 10, 2020 07:23pm
In other words US will have indirect travel arrangements... No imminent plans for direct...
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Mar 10, 2020 07:30pm
Strange. There is no direct flight between the US and Pakistan so far?
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Mar 10, 2020 07:33pm
Just a few months ago, PIA management had announcement resumption of flights to New York!
In other words, no one at PIA has no clue what they are doing or talking about, without any agreement with the US government.
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Mar 10, 2020 07:38pm
Pakistanis like a stop over for duty free purchases, no need for direct flights.
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Mar 10, 2020 07:41pm
USA has no plans, what with this new threat COVID19.
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Mar 10, 2020 07:46pm
@Captain.Raheel,
Agreed.
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Mar 10, 2020 07:49pm
@zulfiqar,
If you can improve trade relations with USA and neighboring India your economic woes will disappearing soon, mature policies needed.
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Mar 10, 2020 07:57pm
There is a large Pakistani community in USA who need to fly back home, PIA and USA airlines must get together on this route,Emirates, Turkish etc are taking away big PIA s profits as no competition given.
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Mar 10, 2020 08:00pm
FM Qureshi immediately contact US for resuming the flight. As he he is the only person US listen to him.
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Mar 10, 2020 08:09pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you missed the news. It is not about flights but it is about PIA or any other carrier flying direct to USA from Pakistan.
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Mar 10, 2020 08:12pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, what common trait do you see in all the airlines you just named, and what would you infer from that
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Mar 10, 2020 08:14pm
@John/ USA , "If you can improve trade relations with USA and neighboring India your economic woes will disappearing soon, mature policies needed." You mean we will be rich if we surrender, isn't it? You need to do more to make us surrender.
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Mar 10, 2020 08:20pm
Why insist on direct flight? US will never allow a non stop flight from Pakistan because they wont know who is onboard the plane. Just start the flights like before with one stop either is London, Frankfurt or Amsterdam. This should solve the problem as all the passengers will go through security in those airports before travelling to US. Bringing the flight back to Pakistan is a different story, you can have a non stop flight, US will have to objection to it. But at the moment PIA's planes are too old to operate on this route. They need to get newer planes to start US service
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Mar 10, 2020 08:43pm
@Kareem, will resume when ?
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Mar 10, 2020 08:43pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, The grapes are sour...aren't they?
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Mar 10, 2020 08:47pm
Milk costs more than petrol
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Mar 10, 2020 08:49pm
@Captain.Raheel, It's national security and drug control that concerns North America. If the destination country openly exhibits anti-US activities and turns a blind eye to rampant drug smuggling then it's in our interest to block any travel from there. Travelling less to the old country and putting up with more flight and airport down time is but a small price to pay to keep North America safe and drug free.
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Mar 10, 2020 08:52pm
@Thuthuri, You got it wrong, this is for PIA restarting flights to the U.S
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Mar 10, 2020 08:54pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, this is not for any new airline flying into Pakistan, efforts are being made for P.I.A to re-start flights to the U.S
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Mar 10, 2020 09:09pm
My last flight from USA to Lahore was in 2008. It was delayed for a day and a half. Plane was dirty and staff had an attitude. Since then, I have not been on PIA flight.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:21pm
Great, IK please invest more in military and defense.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:23pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, good call Dr. Turkish airlines will take care of all gaps.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:24pm
Why Pakistan cannot satisfy TSA?
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Mar 10, 2020 09:25pm
I agree as flights are always 10% full and mostly used by PIA and Govt. staff for free. Why will US airlines take a loss?
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Mar 10, 2020 09:30pm
@Khan Kashkol, Totally agree, some of my colleagues went by Biman and Air Lanka.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:31pm
Even before TSA's visit, US had decided not to resume PIA flights between US and Pakistan. It is all lip service from US.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:31pm
@Free Kashmir, agree, flights from USA to new Delhi are cancelled.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:33pm
@Free Kashmir, I think, they want to see airport find faults and give it to FATF for further action.
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Mar 10, 2020 09:57pm
If plane loads illegal drugs are found in USA reached Pakistani originated flights, USA treatment will not be same as were received by PIA in Europe or UK.
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Mar 10, 2020 10:38pm
There is no need for direct flight to US our self exiled politicians r happy with flights to London and Dubai
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Mar 10, 2020 11:07pm
No direct flights to US? I wasn't aware of this. There are 8 daily non-stop flights from India to US.
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Mar 10, 2020 11:19pm
@Dr. Q, Most appropriate reason.
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Mar 10, 2020 11:25pm
@BAXAR, No we do not want you to surrender, hang on.
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Mar 10, 2020 11:33pm
Why is this a big deal with Pakistan. They fly directly to India which is full of RSS terrorists and the Indian government does not act against them. They just had all these riots there due to these terrorists gone unchecked.
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Mar 10, 2020 11:52pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, Tell us one thing Are you a Doctor ? Do you understand simple English ?
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Mar 10, 2020 11:59pm
@Gairu, ya just like the Indian economy and Dehli riots.
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Mar 11, 2020 12:45am
Government should work with US, and get their concerns addressed to provide a direct connect...This helps lots of pakistanis in USA.
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Mar 11, 2020 12:49am
Can someone please ask Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Abdul Hafeez about the basis of his expectations. I hope it was not the dream like billion trees and millions of houses.
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Mar 11, 2020 12:56am
If you dig deep into TSA's performance, TSA isn't exactly your role model in airport security,
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Mar 11, 2020 01:00am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, The problem is, thousands of people travel to and from the United States to Pakistan every month, and the revenue generated from airlines coming to Pakistan is too great to overlook.
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Mar 11, 2020 01:39am
@Thuthuri, emirate does. You need to read a bit more.
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Mar 11, 2020 02:02am
US has confidence that Pakistani security can make sure no security breach happen but they don’t have confidence that intentional breach is done.
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Mar 11, 2020 02:06am
What does self praising foreign minister mr. Qureshi have to say about this?
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Mar 11, 2020 02:06am
Really. How about between Russia and US for nearby election intervention.
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Mar 11, 2020 02:46am
I can’t understand while countless flights from Europe, Middle East, Africa, India flying to USA directly, only PIA has been signalled out as incompetent airline to fly to USA DIRECTLY, but WHY? It gives me some smoky conspiracy smell.
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Mar 11, 2020 04:52am
@Dr Athar Abbas, “ I am not sure who linked TSA with flights? These are not planned by TSA (Transportation Security Administration): their job is to provide security at the airports and for the flights. Any flights plan has to come from the airlines, be it from USA or anywhere for that matter.”
TSA decides if security infrastructure of a country is reliable. If yes, it will permit direct flights from that country. If not, then even if an airline wants to start a direct flight from Pakistan to USA, TSA will not give approval.
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Mar 11, 2020 05:32am
@M. Saeed,
Pakistan should buy them anyway so the Ministers can use them, how else will they go to London and NY?
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Mar 11, 2020 05:36am
@Danish,
He is the only person who travels to the USA.
Propaganda have to be carried on, someone has to do so
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Mar 11, 2020 05:39am
Direct flights from India are allowed in the USA.
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Mar 11, 2020 06:42am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
You are happy to let foreign airlines take your passengers / profits instead of PIA, how can you, amazing lack of judgment.
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Mar 11, 2020 06:59am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, It is not the question to fly to US from Pakistan vice versa. It is the question of reputation to gain for Pakistan for international travel jurisdiction.. Pm Khan efforts should convince them.
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Mar 11, 2020 07:35am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, you didnt read the article correctly sir,kindly go through it again.
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Mar 11, 2020 07:42am
@Imran Ahmed, Perhaps you are looking at it from purely and merely a transportation standpoint from A to B.
A direct connection to US essentially puts a stamp of security which in turn is backed by solid infrastructure, airport ranking, airline ranking, telecommunications, visa ease, FAA stamp on originating nation and all the other measures and ranks related to flyer experience, safety, security etc.
That stamp is an endorsement which then also goes a far distance and improves nations passport index over a period of time.
Thus these are the benefits.
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Mar 11, 2020 07:45am
@Fareed N, They changed their name to British Airways.
How long have you been living under a rock?
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Mar 11, 2020 08:07am
@kaka, hi can kingfisher or indigo fly to USA, no that are banned.
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Mar 11, 2020 08:10am
@Lgbtqx, well said, we need to spend excess dollars somewhere.
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Mar 11, 2020 09:08am
Why US is scared of a friendly and most peaceful country like our islamic republic?
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Mar 11, 2020 01:48pm
It will be good for both countries.
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Mar 11, 2020 03:37pm
@Qaiser, not any other, just PIA
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Mar 11, 2020 03:48pm
@Jalal Jawad, No sir. You missed the message. PIA used to have direct flight to NY and Huston for long then they terminated because of inability. Now they applied for it again so the procedure will have to be completed by destination country. This procedure is not Pakistan specific.
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Mar 11, 2020 04:00pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad,
then why your govt is requesting?
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Mar 11, 2020 05:39pm
I’m surprised that there haven’t been any direct flights between US & Pakistan yet. I’ve been flying directly from New York to various Indian cities for at least 11 years now.
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