Nasair to Offer Pakistan Links

Saudi Arabian carrier Nasair is to launch flights to the Pakistan city of Lahore from both Jeddah and Riyadh. The airline will offer four flights per week from Riyadh and three from Jeddah with effect from July 8 using Airbus A320 equipment, expanding its network to 20 destinations.

The new flights follow the recent addition of Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan, to Nasair’s network and will greatly expand the travel options available to Pakistani expats living and working in Saudi Arabia. An estimated 2.29 million O&D passengers travelled between the two countries in the past year with around 200,000 pilgrims making the journey every year, according to Nasair. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Saudi Arabian Airlines already serve both markets using widebodied Boeing 747 and 777 equipment.

"We are thrilled about our increased presence in Pakistan,” said Turki Al Jawini, Director of Sales, Nasair. “Servicing the thriving markets in Karachi, and now Lahore, is an important step in our route expansion.” PIA currently dominates the market between the two countries with a 39.8 per cent share of the traffic followed by Saudi Arabian Airlines with 36.4 per cent.