Airline overview
From Orient Airways to the national flag carrier
PIA's predecessor Orient Airways was founded in Calcutta on 23 October 1946 and was one of the earliest private airlines in the Muslim parts of the subcontinent. On 10 January 1955 the government of Pakistan merged Orient Airways with the newly formed national carrier to create Pakistan International Airlines. The company is headquartered in Karachi, its IATA two-letter code is PK and its ICAO three-letter code PIA. Its website is piac.com.pk.
PIA has long acted as Pakistan's flag carrier, with a network covering the main domestic cities and destinations in the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, North America and the Far East. It has historically served Chinese points including Guangzhou and Beijing, making it one of the earliest carriers on China-Pakistan routes.
In 2020 the European Union Aviation Safety Agency suspended PIA's European operations over pilot licensing issues, after which its international network contracted sharply. In 2026 EASA lifted the third-country operator suspension, and the airline is gradually restoring European points such as Paris and Manchester while starting a privatization process.
The EU suspension had a lasting effect on PIA's international network. During the ban the international points it could serve shrank sharply and long-haul widebody utilization fell. With European points restored in 2026 the 777 fleet has long-haul deployment space again, but schedules to China remain constrained by fleet allocation and airspace restrictions.
For Chinese shippers the core value of PIA is the nonstop Beijing Capital to Islamabad route and the Chinese cities reachable through interline agreements with Chinese carriers. Cargo moves in passenger belly holds, which suits machinery and electrical products, textiles and agricultural and mineral products under China-Pakistan trade.
As the flag carrier PIA has long dominated Pakistan's domestic market, although competition from private airlines has cut its domestic share from more than 60% at its peak to about 30%. Its domestic network covers major commercial and industrial cities such as Quetta, Sukkur, Multan and Faisalabad and supports distribution after cargo reaches Islamabad or Karachi.
Quetta lies in Balochistan and is the border city toward Afghanistan and Iran; Sukkur and Multan sit along the Indus and are nodes of the southern agricultural and industrial belt. PIA domestic flights link the two gateways of Islamabad and Karachi with these cities, forming the last-mile channel for Chinese cargo inside Pakistan.
Exporters should match the gateway airport to the consignee: cargo for the capital region and the north goes through Islamabad, cargo for the south and the ports through Karachi, avoiding an unnecessary second domestic movement. Goodhope confirms the final city before booking and recommends the most suitable gateway and distribution plan.
Because Pakistani and Indian airspace has been closed to each other since 2019, PIA flights to the Far East have to take a detour, which lengthens the sector compared with the period before the closure. Chinese shippers should factor that detour into transit-time estimates for China-Pakistan air freight.
Pakistan lies in the northwest of the South Asian subcontinent on the Arabian Sea, a strategic position between Central Asia, the Middle East and South Asia. Karachi, on the western edge of the Indus delta, is the country's largest commercial port and industrial centre; Islamabad, inland in the northeast, is the capital and political centre; Lahore is the second city and a cultural and industrial centre. The three airports together form the PIA hub system.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the flagship of economic cooperation between the two countries, linking Kashgar in China with Gwadar port. Chinese contracting, direct investment and trade with Pakistan keep growing, and machinery, building materials and project supplies are important air cargo. PIA widebody belly holds carry the time-sensitive high-value and urgent consignments.
PIA once had one of the widest networks in Asia, with Far East points including Karachi to Guangzhou, Shanghai and Tokyo. Long-standing financial difficulty, an ageing fleet and international operating restrictions have left the airline in restructuring and privatization. Shippers should watch schedule stability and fleet availability when choosing the carrier.
Fleet and aircraft types
The PIA fleet numbers about 32 to 35 aircraft, mainly Boeing 777 widebody long-haul aircraft and Airbus A320 narrowbodies, plus a few ATR turboprops on short domestic routes.
| Aircraft type | Number and role | Cabin and belly characteristics | Applicable routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 777-200ER / 200LR / 300ER | About 12 aircraft, the long-haul mainstay | Three-class layout with large belly volume, able to take pallets and loose cargo | Beijing to Islamabad, and long-haul trunk routes to Europe, North America and the Middle East |
| Airbus A320 | About 20 aircraft, the short and medium haul mainstay | Mainly all-economy, with belly space for loose cargo and small ULDs | Domestic points and regional routes in the Middle East and Asia |
| ATR 42-500 | About 3 aircraft, domestic feeder | Small turboprop airliner with limited belly cargo capacity | Short domestic routes from Karachi and Lahore to smaller cities |
The belly volume of the Boeing 777 widebody is markedly larger than a narrowbody, and it is the main type on the Beijing to Islamabad long-haul route and therefore the main belly capacity from China to Pakistan.
The Boeing 777 is a twin-engine long-haul widebody with forward and aft lower-deck holds that take standard pallets and loose cargo. On the Beijing to Islamabad route the aircraft usually leaves some belly space beyond a full passenger load, which can take high-value China-Pakistan trade cargo. The A320 narrowbody works domestic and Middle East regional routes with limited belly capacity and is not suited to bulk cargo.
The ATR 42 turboprop can take only small bags and a little loose cargo and is used mainly on short domestic passenger sectors; Chinese shippers do not normally use it for international cargo. The PIA fleet is relatively old and some 777s have high hours, so scheduling flexibility is limited by the aircraft available.
China routes and the China-Pakistan cargo corridor
Beyond the nonstop from Beijing, PIA extends its China-Pakistan route through interline agreements with Air China and Shenzhen Airlines to about 16 Chinese cities, including Guangzhou, Wuhan, Urumqi, Shenzhen, Xi'an, Shenyang, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nanjing, Harbin, Hangzhou, Hohhot, Dunhuang, Chengdu, Changchun and Chongqing. Shippers can position cargo to Beijing first and connect to the PIA nonstop to Islamabad.
PIA historically served Far East points including Guangzhou and Shanghai. Fleet size and airspace restrictions have reduced its own nonstop China service to the single Beijing to Islamabad route, and cargo from South China airports such as Guangzhou to Pakistan is now flown mainly by Chinese carriers such as China Southern.
Guangzhou to Islamabad or Guangzhou to Karachi services flown by China Southern and others are the alternative for Pearl River Delta exports. Goodhope compares the PIA nonstop from Beijing with the South China nonstops of Chinese carriers and chooses the better combination of transit time and cost.
On interline cooperation, codeshares with Air China let passengers and cargo from more than 20 Chinese cities connect at Beijing to the PIA nonstop, while the partnership with Shenzhen Airlines covers another 9 cities. That reach means PIA serves most major cargo origins in China even though it only flies Beijing itself.
The base of China-Pakistan trade cargo
China is Pakistan's largest trading partner. Chinese exports to Pakistan are mainly machinery and electrical products, mechanical equipment, electronics, textile raw materials, chemicals and building materials, while Pakistani exports to China are mainly cotton textiles, leather, agricultural products and minerals. PIA widebody belly holds carry the time-sensitive, higher-value share.
Much of the machinery and electronics Pakistan imports from China is made in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta. Such cargo usually moves on a Chinese domestic sector to Beijing and connects to the PIA nonstop to Islamabad, or flies to Karachi from Guangzhou with carriers such as China Southern. PIA operates the Beijing nonstop while partner carriers fly the Chinese domestic sectors.
In the return direction, part of Pakistan's cotton yarn, leather goods and agricultural exports to China moves in PIA belly holds to Beijing and is distributed across China. Return volumes vary strongly with Pakistan's export seasons.
Chinese export categories suited to PIA belly capacity
Consumer electronics parts, telecom equipment components, textile fabrics, hardware tools and small machinery made in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta are common Chinese exports to Pakistan. Individual pieces are moderate in size, value is relatively high and time matters, which matches the belly capacity of the Boeing 777 widebody.
Urgent parts, special tools and technical documents for engineering projects are a steady source of belly cargo. Chinese project offices in Pakistan often fly in short-supply items to keep construction on schedule instead of waiting for sea freight.
Large machinery, steel and building materials are low-value bulk cargo and should not fly; the Karachi sea route is the right choice. The narrowbody belly hold cannot take oversize pieces either, so dimensions and weight per piece must be confirmed before booking.
In the return direction, the higher-value share of Pakistan's cotton yarn and leather exports to China moves in PIA belly holds to Beijing. Chinese importers can obtain relatively attractive rates on the return space. Goodhope handles both directions and can quote combined round-trip options.
Because the fleet is small, peak-season space has to be booked ahead. Goodhope advises regular clients to lock space when the airline changes season, so a late booking does not come up empty. Goodhope also compares PIA against other carriers to balance transit time and cost.
Network: a double-hub route with a dogleg
The schematic is centred on the Karachi and Islamabad hubs and shows PIA's current China and regional routes. The Beijing nonstop is flown with widebodies, and the gold dashed line shows the actual track around Indian airspace.
Booking path for Chinese shippers
Two channels: the Beijing nonstop and the South China connection
Shippers sending cargo to Pakistan can choose a channel by departure airport and destination. The Beijing nonstop is fastest; the South China connection suits Pearl River Delta exports. Goodhope asks for origin, final city and deadline before booking and then recommends the best combination.
Beijing nonstop channel:Cargo is handed over at Beijing Capital Airport and, after Chinese export declaration, flies nonstop to Islamabad on a PIA Boeing 777 in the belly hold. This is the fastest channel and suits exports from Beijing, the surrounding area and North China.
South China connection channel:Pearl River Delta exports can move on a Chinese domestic carrier to Beijing and connect to the PIA nonstop to Islamabad, or fly Guangzhou to Karachi with a carrier such as China Southern and connect to a Pakistani domestic flight. Goodhope assembles the better option for the destination and deadline.
Islamabad and Karachi are Pakistan's two cargo gateways. Islamabad takes cargo for the capital region and the north, Karachi for the country's largest commercial port and the southern industrial zone. Shippers should state the final city at booking so Goodhope can arrange distribution.
For contracting companies the Karachi channel matters most: much project material moves by sea to Karachi port and then by road or domestic flight to site. PIA belly capacity suits the urgent parts and documents, while bulk building materials are cheaper by sea.
For textile and light industry exporters the Beijing nonstop suits urgent replenishment orders from Pakistani buyers. Pearl River Delta cargo can be consolidated to Beijing, reach Islamabad the next day and move on to the Lahore textile district.
Documents and compliance
Cargo exported from China to Pakistan must be accompanied by a commercial invoice, packing list and air waybill. Pakistani customs requires import declarations, and some machinery and chemical products need an import permit. A free trade arrangement between the two countries gives preferential duty on some goods, so exporters must state origin correctly on the invoice.
Pakistani customs requires the invoice on all imports to show the value in US dollars, with the original bill of lading or air waybill attached. Textile imports must meet Pakistani fibre testing standards and machinery must come with specifications. Goodhope helps Chinese exporters prepare documents to Pakistani requirements before booking.
Cargo containing lithium batteries or magnetic goods must be packed and declared under the IATA dangerous goods regulations. Clearance at some Pakistani airports depends on local administrative efficiency, so shippers should allow buffer time. Goodhope checks documents and cargo details before booking to reduce the risk of inspection on arrival.
Pakistani customs inspects closely for understated value and misclassification, so exporters must state commodity, quantity and value accurately on the commercial invoice. Project material imports need the contract and duty exemption attached, and Goodhope can help Chinese contractors prepare those documents.
What Goodhope can do on the Pakistan lane
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited has long handled air freight from China to Pakistan and offers the following services on the PIA Beijing nonstop.
China-Pakistan cargo involves several legs and complex clearance, and Goodhope has practical experience on both main channels, the Beijing nonstop and Guangzhou to Karachi, and can plan the whole job from handover at the airport to the consignee inland in Pakistan. For exporters shipping regularly, Goodhope can lock Beijing nonstop space quarterly and package the China leg and Pakistani distribution into a fixed arrangement.
Booking and declaration for the Beijing nonstop
Shippers hand over at Beijing, and Goodhope handles export declaration and books belly space on the PIA Boeing 777, with cargo accepted the same day and arriving in Islamabad the next day.
South China consolidation and connections
For Pearl River Delta exports Goodhope consolidates to Beijing first or connects directly to the Guangzhou to Karachi services of Chinese carriers, booking the whole job in one place so the shipper does not deal with several parties.
Distribution inside Pakistan
After arrival at Islamabad or Karachi, Goodhope connects to PIA domestic flights or a local ground agent for delivery to commercial cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan.
Lahore is Pakistan's textile centre and much Chinese fabric and dyestuff moves there through Islamabad or Karachi. Faisalabad is the other textile and chemical centre. Goodhope selects the most economical gateway and distribution method for the consignee's city.
The detour and transit times
With Indian airspace closed, PIA's China sectors are longer than before the closure. Goodhope states the full transit time in its quotation so shippers do not misjudge arrival.
Logistics for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects
For Chinese project offices in Pakistan, Goodhope runs regular air replenishment of urgent parts and documents, flying them to Islamabad and distributing to site, and helps with temporary import documents for project material.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does PIA fly nonstop to China?
Yes. PIA operates a nonstop from Beijing Capital to Islamabad, flight PK855, with a sector time of about six and a half hours.
Does PIA still fly to Guangzhou?
PIA's own nonstop China service is now limited to Beijing. Guangzhou to Pakistan is flown mainly by carriers such as China Southern, and PIA connects Guangzhou through interline agreements.
What aircraft does PIA fly?
About 32 to 35 aircraft: roughly 12 Boeing 777 widebodies, about 20 Airbus A320s and 3 ATR 42 turboprops.
Has PIA been cleared to fly to the EU again?
In 2026 EASA lifted the third-country operator suspension on PIA, and the airline is gradually restoring European points such as Paris and Manchester.
Which Chinese exports suit PIA?
China-Pakistan trade goods such as machinery and electrical products, mechanical equipment, textile raw materials, chemicals and building materials; time-sensitive high-value parts suit the widebody belly.
Does PIA operate freighters?
No. All cargo moves in the belly holds of Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 passenger aircraft, and no dedicated freighter service is operated.
Why do PIA flights to China take a detour?
Pakistani and Indian airspace has been closed to each other since 2019, so PIA flights to the Far East take a detour and sectors are longer than before the closure.
What should I watch when booking?
Some categories need a Pakistani import permit, lithium batteries must be declared as dangerous goods, and the detour lengthens total transit, so buffer time should be allowed.
Disclaimer
All information is provided for reference only and does not form a transport contract or commercial commitment. Pakistan International Airlines route schedules, fleet and operating status may change with conditions in Pakistan and with management decisions without notice; flight times are local and actual schedules and rates are confirmed by the carrier or the relevant authority on the day of booking.
Contact details
For details of air freight services from China to Pakistan, or help with booking, contact a Goodhope freight consultant for a tailored end-to-end plan. Routing is planned around origin, final city and deadline, giving China-Pakistan traders steady, trackable logistics support so machinery and light industrial goods reach the Pakistani market efficiently and on time.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight)
Official website: goodhope86.com
Trademark notice
Pakistan International Airlines and related marks are registered or unregistered trademarks of PIA. The names are used here for identification only and do not imply any agency, partnership or affiliation between Goodhope and PIA. Other airline names and marks mentioned are the trademarks of their respective owners.