Cross-border flights: IA, PIA take to the skies

The IA, meanwhile, will operate two special flights to Islamabad on January 2 and January 7, respectively. ‘‘These flights are special only because Islamabad is not a regular sector. Otherwise, these are fare paying flights, being operated only due to heavy demand, and also to carry mediapersons and officials for the summit,’’ the IA official said.

Sources, however, said that security agencies are still apprehensive, even though the resumption of flights is due to sustained diplomatic efforts. ‘‘The intelligence agencies had suggested operating flights to Pakistan with sky marshals on board. But this was not feasible, since it would have to be done on a reciprocal basis. And there is no way we would accept a flight from Pakistan with a trained commando on board,’’ sources said.

In fact, to begin with, these flights will not even have a security official from the airlines, as was the practice before air services between the two countries were disrupted following the terrorist attack on Parliament on December 13, 2002.

Earlier, Pakistan International Airlines and IA flights used to carry a security official for secondary, step-ladder checking on board. ‘‘After the passengers were cleared by ground security, they were frisked and their hand baggage checked as they were boarding the aircraft. The security officials from respective airlines stayed on board and were not allowed to de-plane,’’ sources said.

Now even this may not be the case, as IA has not received any instructions to send a security official on the flight. IA operated on the Mumbai-Karachi-Mumbai sector before the attack on Parliament.

Flights on the Delhi-Lahore-Delhi sector were stopped in August 1992.

As per the schedule, the Delhi-Lahore-Delhi service will be bi-weekly, operating on Mondays and Fridays. IA will be flying Airbus 320, with a capacity of about 150 passengers. The fares will be Rs 4,870 one-way and Rs 8,830 return in Business Class, and Rs 3,745 and Rs 6,795 in Economy Class.

Under the existing bilateral agreement between India and Pakistan, both countries can each operate 12 weekly flights to two destinations. For Pakistan, the approved destinations are Delhi and Mumbai, and for India, they are Lahore and Karachi.

Pakistan has so far announced a schedule of six weekly flights. Even after dates for operation on the Mumbai-Karachi-Mumbai sector are announced, IA plans to operate two flights a week. ‘‘Both sides have a scope to add flights later,’’ the official added.