PIA provides rail service to passengers traveling to Western States

PIA (Pakistan International Airline) has enlarged its operations to railway service in specific western countries – Spain, Norway, the UK and Canada, for the passengers flying to these countries. 

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said: “PIA has announced a new partnership with AccesRail, the world’s leading provider of air-rail intermodal solutions.”

Due to this partnership, PIA will be able to access expertise of AccesRail to enabling its customers to book train tickets in Spain, the UK, Canada and Norway by using booking platform of PIA or travel agent Global Distribution System platform. 

PIA also set out code sharing with the company that will help passengers to reach their next destinations after leaving the airport. The spokesman also told: “We are increasing connectivity of the national airline.”

In the case that passengers want to visit the cities of Spain other than Barcelona and PIA only flies to Barcelona, but they can go to other cities via train with the same ticket. 

According to the spokesman, this new arrangement will provide easy rail/bus connections to the passengers at PIA gateways located in the UK, Canada and Europe. It will enable travelers to reach the cities other than served by PIA with the desired itinerary in the same ticket and best fares. Travelers can also buy separate train tickets but it will cost more as compared to AccesRail deal with PIA. 

In western countries, trains are common that is why there is no need to buy tickets in advance as it will not be available or can be an expensive deal. 

Transport providers are Renfe in Spain, VI in Norway, Via Rail Canada and Avanti West Coast and Great Western Railways in the UK. Luxury coach routes in the UK are also added in this partnership that are operated by National Express to major cities and British towns from Manchester Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport. 

The spokesman of PIA sad: “PIA has targeted 10% of total sales through code-sharing over the next three to four years. This is not a very ambitious goal and we will achieve it soon.”