(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is expanding its Saudi Arabia network with a new weekly service between Karachi and Riyadh, set to begin on January 2, 2026, with the Airbus A320.

The national carrier of Pakistan already flies to Riyadh from Islamabad and Lahore.

Flight schedule

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Route: Karachi to Riyadh

Flight Number: PK729

Day of Operation: Friday

Departure from Karachi: 8:45 PM

Arrival in Riyadh: 10:45 PM (flight duration: 4 hours)

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Route: Riyadh to Karachi

Flight Number: PK730

Day of Operation: Saturday

Departure from Riyadh: 12:05 AM

Arrival in Karachi: 5:10 AM (flight duration: 3 hours 5 minutes)

Pakistan's state-owned airline resumed direct flights to Britain on Saturday, after UK authorities had ended a five-year suspension imposed over aviation safety concerns.

The debt-ridden flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was barred from flying to Britain, the European Union and the US in June 2020, a month after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft plunged into a Karachi neighbourhood, killing nearly 100 people.

The flag carrier, which employs around 7,000 people, has long struggled with debt, mismanagement and regulatory issues. The government has pledged to privatise the airline, though a deal collapsed last year after a buyer reportedly offered far below the asking price.

Founded in 1955, PIA was once a symbol of national pride and rapid growth, but its reputation has eroded over decades of financial losses and safety lapses.

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