Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to commence direct flights from Lahore to Baku, Azerbaijan, starting April 20, 2025. This initiative reflects the growing strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, encompassing trade, energy, defense, and regional connectivity.
The announcement follows PIA’s recent financial turnaround, marking its first operational profit in 21 years. The airline reported an operational profit of $33.48 million and a net profit of $94.32 million in the last fiscal year. The new Lahore-Baku route, with flights scheduled on Sundays and Wednesdays, aims to bolster tourism and commercial ties between the two nations.
In a recent development, Azerbaijan pledged a $2 billion investment in Pakistan’s mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Baku in February. Conversely, Pakistan has offered Azerbaijan and other Central Asian countries access to its Gwadar and Karachi ports, enhancing regional trade connectivity.
The launch of this direct flight service is anticipated to further PIA’s business prospects and aligns with the government’s broader economic reforms under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program aimed at privatizing state-owned enterprises and stabilizing the economy.
