KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has offered to fly passengers of the Turkish Airlines, who have been affected due to flight diversions as Turkey reels from a major terror attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport on Wednesday.
PIA has signed a code share agreement of ‘full support’ with Turkey’s national flag carrier in transporting passengers stranded in the aftermath of the terror attack, said a press release from PIA.
PIA CEO Bernd Hildenbrand expressed his sorrow over the incident that led to an hours-long closure of Ataturk airport, which is one of the busiest hubs in Europe. “We are deeply sorry for this tragedy and as code share partners with Turkish Airlines, we are ready to extend our complete support to them,” said Hildenbrand.
At least 36 people, including foreigners, were killed and at least 150 were injured in the triple suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport on Tuesday. “It is the deadliest of the four attacks to rock Turkey’s biggest city this year,” said a local news agency.
The attack prompted the suspension of all flights at Ataturk airport, which handled more than 61 million passengers in 2015. However, air traffic resumed at around 8:00am (0500 GMT) after police personnel evacuated the airport building.
Turkish Airlines announced after the incident that any bookings on flights to or from Ataturk airport could be changed or refunded without additional cost.
