BEIJING: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will extend its current Tokyo-Beijing-Islamabad flight to Jinnah International Airport Karachi from June 29.

“The management has decided to extend the present Tokyo-Beijing-Islamabad flight to Karachi keeping in view the increasing demand of passengers on this route,” a senior official of PIA said here on Tuesday.

At present, the national flag carrier is operating two flights in a week on this route and this move would benefit those travellers who intend to go directly to the port city from China, he told APP.

The number of passengers from both Pakistan and China has increased manifold after the launch of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). An increasing number of students and businessmen are also travelling from Pakistan to China and back.

He informed that PIA is providing 17 per cent discount to Pakistani students studying in China and said even students up to 40 years of age are availing this facility.

The PIA is the only airline which is providing 40-kg baggage facility to its customers, he added.

It may be mentioned here that PIA is also making arrangements to launch a flight to the Chinese city of Guangzhou for which a feasibility report has been completed and submitted for the approval.

Guangzhou is one of the most important cities of China having huge trade and investment potential and direct air links between Pakistan and this city by the national flag carrier will provide immense benefits to people of both Pakistan and China.