MIRPUR (AJK): :Pakistan’s apex private-sector airline, AirBlue has announced to begin its flights to UK with effect from June-01.

The decision would expand the overseas network of AirBlue flights to seven for various foreign countries including the United Kingdom.

Besides various cities within Pakistan, the marvelous airline – AirBlue currently operates on manifold destinations in the United Arab Emirates – UAE.

Decision to launch flights to Manchester in UK with effect from June 01 was announced by the Chief Operating Officer [COO] AirBlue Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at a launching ceremony held here, under the auspices of the management of AirBlue and local AITA-approved travel agents.

The AirBlue direct flight to Manchester shall be originating from Islamabad, he said.

The AirBlue COO said that since lakhs of Kashmiris belonging to Mirpur district were settled in Manchester and adjoining areas, AirBlue decided to provide either-side direct traveling facility from Islamabad to Manchester from June 1.

He said that initially four flights on the route will be operated in a week and later on it will be operated on daily basis for the facilities of the passengers living in Manchester and the towns in its outskirt, he added.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that for the convenience of the people of Mirpur and Manchester, it will fly at 2.00 p.m from Islamabad and land at Manchester at 7.30 p.m (local time) the same day.

Similarly, from Manchester, AirBlue bird will fly from Manchester at 2.00 a.m (local time) and land at Islamabad 10.30 a.m. These direct flights will be much convenient for people of Mirpur settled in Manchester and other adjoining resorts.

The AirBlue COO said that in order to provide more batter safe and comfortable facilities to the commuters, his organization has added latest planes in its fleet by raising the number of its flights from three and seven on various foreign destinations including those determined in United Kingdom, he added.

Shahid Haqan Abbasi said that since air lines business has emerged as a high-frequency business, AirBlue has given a tremendous boost to its system and emerged as the major private entity in the air carrier field in Pakistan.

He pointed out that AirBlue was operating its flights simultaneously for their respectively stipulated destinations.

AirBlue chief said that for the convenience of the local passengers of Mirpur seeking to abroad Air-Blue for Manchester and other destinations, his organization will provide check in facility to the passengers close to their door step in Mirpur.

Necessary arrangements will be made to this direction soon, he added. He said that free safe and comfortable transport will be provided to the Air-Blue passengers hailing from Mirpur to and from Islamabad besides the local check-in facility to the passengers.

He said that in order his organization is also taking necessary steps to provide self E-Ticketing facility to those passengers seeking to travel by Air-Blue.

He said that it was the basic endeavor of AirBlue to attract the passengers of the excellent facilities which his organization is determined to provide to the passengers seeking to travel through AirBlue on their own choice and will.

He also declared to provide dynamic and competitive fare as compared to the fares of other contemporaries in the market.

AirBlue has added latest planes in its fleet by raising the number of its flights from three and seven on various foreign destinations, he said.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said free safe and comfortable transport will be provided to the AirBlue passengers hailing from Mirpur to and from Islamabad besides local check-in facility.

He said his organization is also taking steps to provide E-ticketing facility to passengers seeking to travel by AirBlue.

He also assured to provide competitive fare to its patrons.

Speakers on the occasion appreciated the successes scored by the private sector in various fields, including air traffic.

They emphasized the need for establishment of an international airport in the private-sector in Mirpur Azad Kashmir on the pattern of the recently-constructed private-sector Sialkot International Airport to facilitate thousands of local passengers who travel daily to from the United Kingdom to Pakistan through different flights.

Kashmiri journalist Altaf Hamid Rao said that since over seven lakh out of over one million Britain-based overseas Pakistanis hail from three districts of Mirpur division and other parts of AJK, an international airport in the private or public sector in Mirpur may prove to be a major facility.

Besides the AirBlue Chairman and COO Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the ceremony was also addressed by Saeed Hassan DSM, Islamabad, ex-Chairman MDA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif, CEO Bukhari Travels Muhammad Rafique and Sayed Farhan Hussasin Shah, Saeed Agha, Khalil Piracha, Zaffar Iqbal, Muhammad Iqbal and others.

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