PIA And Kam Air Sign Interline Agreement
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Afghanistan’s Kam Air have signed an interline agreement designed to create a smoother transit route through Islamabad for Afghan passengers travelling to the Middle East.
Under the arrangement, passengers can book their complete journey on a single ticket rather than purchasing separate tickets for each leg. Their checked baggage will also be transferred directly to the connecting flight at Islamabad International Airport.
Passengers who remain within the airside transit area will not need to go through Pakistani immigration, provided they do not enter the country.
How The Islamabad Transit Arrangement Works
The new arrangement is aimed at removing some of the complications associated with connecting flights.
Previously, passengers travelling through Islamabad on separate tickets could face the need to collect their baggage and complete another check-in process before continuing their journey.
Under the interline arrangement, baggage will be transferred automatically between the flights. Passengers can remain in the designated transit area while waiting for their onward flight.
For Afghan travellers heading to Gulf destinations, this creates a more straightforward connection between Kabul and the Middle East.
Kabul–Islamabad–Dammam Is The First Route
The first route under the cooperation will connect Kabul with Dammam through Islamabad.
The service is particularly relevant for Afghan workers and families travelling to eastern Saudi Arabia, where demand for convenient regional connections remains significant.
The airlines plan to build on the initial route by introducing connections to additional Gulf destinations in a second phase.
Madinah, Muscat And Al Ain Planned For Expansion
The proposed expansion includes Madinah, Muscat and Al Ain.
These destinations could serve different categories of Afghan travellers, including religious pilgrims, labour migrants and business passengers.
Madinah, in particular, could become an important destination for religious travel once the planned connection is introduced.
However, the airlines have not yet announced the exact launch dates or flight frequencies for these additional routes.
Islamabad’s Role As A Regional Transit Hub
The agreement also strengthens Islamabad’s position as a potential connecting point between South and West Asia and the Gulf.
By linking Kabul traffic with onward Middle East destinations, the arrangement could allow Islamabad International Airport to handle more connecting passengers without requiring them to enter Pakistan.
For the airlines, the model offers a way to make greater use of existing airport capacity while providing Afghan travellers with an alternative to more complicated travel arrangements.
PIA Highlights Easier Regional Travel
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the arrangement would streamline travel from Afghanistan to key Middle Eastern cities and strengthen Islamabad’s role as a regional transit hub.
The single-ticket system and through-checked baggage are expected to make journeys less stressful for passengers who previously had to manage separate tickets and additional airport procedures.
The airside transit model is particularly useful for travellers who simply need to change flights and do not intend to enter Pakistan.
Afghan Gulf Demand Could Support The Partnership
Demand from Afghan diaspora communities working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries could provide a significant passenger base for the new connections.
Labour migration has created established travel links between Afghanistan and the Gulf, while religious travel could provide another source of demand as additional destinations are added.
The new cooperation comes as both carriers look for practical ways to strengthen regional connectivity and expand available travel options.
Dammam Service Is The First Step
The Kabul–Islamabad–Dammam route represents the first concrete step under the new PIA-Kam Air cooperation.
The planned expansion to Madinah, Muscat and Al Ain could broaden the network further, although the timing will depend on the airlines’ operational plans and any necessary approvals.
For now, the key change for passengers is straightforward: a single ticket, through-checked baggage and airside transit through Islamabad could make travel from Afghanistan to the Gulf considerably easier.