► PAKISTAN: PIA looking at returning to Nairobi and Johannesburg.

News reports out of Pakistan state that Pakistani state-carrier Pakistani International Airlines PIA (PK) has expressed interest in returning to Africa following the renewal of their fleet with five Boeing 737-800s, two B-777-LRs and two B747-800s.

PIA's 1982 Route Network with Nairobi & Dar es Salaam.

PIA last served Nairobi, Kenya from 2005 until 2006 as Karachi - Dubai - Nairobi with an Airbus A310. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was also part of PIA's Africa Network until the 90s whilst Johannesburg, South Africa would be a début station, despite having been on the cards for many years.

"New planes scheduled to be purchased included five B-737-800, two B-777-LR and two Jumbo planes. Sources claimed that Jumbo planes would be used for Hajj purpose while B-777 for long haul flights like Huston, Chicago and Los Angeles while B-737-800 for other routes.
A well informed officer of PIA seeking anonymity said that MD PIA was also keen in revamping of routes like Nairobi, Johannesburg, Glasgow and Bangkok etc."

Source [The Nation, Pakistan]

Should the flights go ahead, PIA will face stiff opposition from UAE carrier Emirates, Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways whose collective flights and highly competitive fares forced PIA's withdrawal from the Nairobi route back in 2006.