Pakistan's flagship airline returns to Glasgow

Pakistan’s national flag carrier is to resume flights from Glasgow next month, with a twice weekly service to Lahore and Faisalabad, a new route for Glasgow.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume flights from 2 April, flying every Sunday to Lahore, and every Wednesday to Faisalabad.

The airline will operate an Airbus A310 aircraft with a three class cabin offering economy, economy plus and business class seats.

PIA began flying from Glasgow in November 2005 but suspended flights in May 2007 on technical grounds.

Bailie Hanzala Malik, Executive Member for International Links, said: “This is wonderful news for Glasgow’s travellers to Pakistan destinations as it will help stimulate local economies as well as addressing the huge demand by passengers. The community is delighted with the news, particularly as Pakistan International Airlines are launching a new route to Faisalabad, as well as Lahore, Glasgow’s twin city.”

Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “We are delighted to welcome PIA back to Glasgow, and especially pleased to see a new addition to Glasgow’s long haul network. Glasgow has historically strong commercial ties with Pakistan, particularly around the Lahore and Faisalabad regions.

“The long haul market from Glasgow has traditionally centred around North America. However, with the emergence of flights to the Gulf, North Africa and Pakistan, we are now seeing a shift in travel patterns, with eastbound long haul flights increasingly growing in popularity.”

Tariq Bukhari, PIA’s General Manager UK & Ireland, said: “We are pleased to be resuming services from Glasgow. It is an important base for PIA and we look forward to growing the market with a new route to Faisalabad, and the resumption of our existing, and popular, service to Lahore.”

A joint marketing campaign has been launched by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and PIA to promote the new services, including a leaflet to be distributed in Pakistan, and a giant advert on the Premier Screen on Buchanan Street, viewed by 1.6 million people a week.

ENDS March 2008

Media Enquiries:

Caroline Gray

PR Manager

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

Tel: 0141 566 0832

Email: caroline.gray@seeglasgow.com

(or)

Donald Morrison

BAA Glasgow

Tel: 0141 848 4845

Note to Editors

From 2 April, PIA will fly twice weekly from Glasgow:

Every Wednesday Lahore-Glasgow-Faisalabad

Every Sunday Lahore – Glasgow – Lahore

Around 30,000 people of Pakistani birth or origin live in and around Glasgow. Most are from, or have roots, in the Punjab and its two largest cities, Faisalabad and Lahore.

Glasgow was twinned with Lahore, the capital of Punjab, in September 2006.