NAIROBI, Aug 31: Pakistan International Airlines will approach the government to allow 15 per cent increase in Haj fares this year due to the continued rise of oil prices in the international market. The fuel bill of national flag carrier currently constitutes 40 per cent of its budget, said PIA Chairman Tariq Kirmani.

Talking to newsmen here after arrival of PIA’s Nairobi Special — resumption of twice-a-week flights between Karachi and the Kenyan capital — he said the national carrier would lease eight wide-bodied aircraft for three months for pre- and post-Umra and Haj flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia this year. Mr Kirmani said PIA would start non-stop flights from Karachi to New York in January next year after delivery of long-haul Boeing 777s. Later direct flights would be operated on Karachi-Toronto, Karachi-Houston and Karachi-Chicago routes, he added.

He said by December 2005, PIA would start flights to Athens and the Spanish city of Barcelona, besides two additional weekly flights to Japan.

Answering a question, he said the national airline had to acquire new and leased aircraft to meet the increasing demand of passenger traffic both on domestic and international routes.

Mr Kirmani said daily flights between Karachi and Islamabad, including the night coach, were being increased to five.—PPI