PIA exporters will use a single air waybill to access the Air France-KLM international cargo network
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has secured a strategic cargo partnership with Air France-KLM, deepening its global cargo connectivity at a time when the national airline is also undergoing a major institutional change.
The cargo agreement, effective January 15, grants PIA Cargo access to the Air France-KLM global network. Under this agreement, exporters will be able to send shipments throughout Europe and the United States using a single air waybill covering both PIA and the Air France-KLM system.
PIA Cargo will connect to the wider network through regional hubs including Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam, with key destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Düsseldorf, as well as New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles now accessible through the combined network.
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The partnership builds on PIA’s broader initiatives to restore and expand international operations. French Ambassador Nicolas Galey has indicated that the recent resumption of direct flights between Islamabad and Paris, operating twice a week from January 10, reflects strengthened bilateral ties and improved connectivity between Pakistan and Europe.
The ambassador noted that the route and the Air France-KLM partnership offer agile connections to some 21 European destinations, with associated benefits for economic and cultural exchange.
The cargo pact and the expansion of passenger connections coincide with the conclusion of the PIA privatization process. In late January, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a ceremony in Islamabad marking the signing of transaction documents between the government and the Arif Habib Consortium, which acquired a 75 per cent stake in PIA through a competitive bidding process.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz described the transparent process as a milestone in Pakistan’s privatization agenda and expressed confidence that the new owners would invest in quality of service and reconnect the airline with its historical prominence.
The expanded cargo network, resumption of direct European flights and transition to private sector management point to a renewed focus on strengthening PIA’s role in supporting trade and travel between Pakistan and key global markets.
