KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines  (PIA) has announced a major new partnership with AccesRail, the world’s leading provider of air-rail intermodal solutions, a press release said on Thursday.

The partnership will allow PIA to use AccesRail’s expertise to enable its customers to book train tickets in UK, Spain, Norway and Canada by using PIA’s booking platform, or through travel agency Global Distribution System.

This new arrangement provides convenient, easy rail/bus connections at PIA’s key gateways in UK, Europe and Canada, enabling PIA passengers to reach cities and destinations other than those served by PIA and to reach their end destinations seamlessly with the best fares available as per desired itinerary and same ticket.

PIA passengers will be able to connect to and from their international flights onto a number of rail/bus routes operated by major railway/bus companies in combination with PIA operating flights.

The transport providers include: RENFE in Spain, VIA RAIL Canada, VI in Norway as well as Great Western Railways and Avanti West Coast in the United Kingdom. This partnership also includes luxury coach routes in the United Kingdom operated by National Express to major British towns and cities from London Heathrow Airport and from Manchester Airport.

CEO PIA, Air Marshal Arshad Malik congratulated the airline’s marketing team for providing this added facility to the passengers who can now book and buy their rail/ bus tickets from PIA and its travel agencies for travel in UK, Spain, Norway and Canada.