Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been permitted to operate direct flights to the United States (US) for the first time in Pakistan’s history.

Earlier, CEO of PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik seek permission to operate PIA special flights to bring back stuck Pakistanis in US due to Coronavirus outbreak.

He appealed for the special flight operation by writing a letter to the US ambassador and the State Department.

The permission was granted by the US Transport Department on Pakistan’s request to repatriate its stranded citizens in the US.

According to the details, US allows as many as 12 direct flights to PIA to bring back stranded Pakistanis.

CEO PIA Arshad Malik thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Ministry and Aviation Ministry for taking the issue with the US.

Earlier, three more staff members of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) test positive for the coronavirus

The affected flight attendants were put into quarantine in a local hotel in Islamabad for two days upon return from Manchester on board a repatriation flight.

During this period, they took a test for the virus, which turned out to be positive.

A spokesperson for PIA confirmed the news saying they were shifted to a hospital for treatment.