PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International) has entered the final stages of its preparations to commence direct flights to the US in 2020, with departure points being from Karachi International, Lahore International and Islamabad International.

The national carrier intends to start direct flights to the US in April next year, PIA sources reportedly told the Urdu language Daily Jang newspaper. Destinations are unclear at present, but PIA has operated to the US in the past using transit services.

Up until October 2017, PIA operated a 2x weekly service to New York JFK from Karachi via Lahore and Manchester International. The US city had been served for over 50 years before the service's cancellation two years ago. In addition, the carrier has also operated to Chicago O'Hare and Houston Intercontinental in the past, on similar European transiting services.

PIA currently offers four weekly direct flights to Toronto Pearson in Canada, with a 2x weekly service from Lahore, and once weekly flights from both Islamabad International and Karachi.

According to the ch-aviation PRO airlines module, PIA's long-haul fleet currently consists of six B777-200(ER)s, four B777-300(ER)s, and two B777-200(LR)s.