China Southern Airlines to resume Urumqi-Kashgar-Islamabad route after 15-year suspension

China Southern Airlines, the flagship carrier of China, is set to revive the Urumqi-Kashgar-Islamabad route on January 27, marking the return of this service after nearly 15 years of suspension since July 2009.

The weekly Urumqi-Kashgar-Islamabad round trip, designated as flight CZ8019/20, is scheduled every Saturday. The outbound flight CZ8019 will depart from Urumqi at 8:40 BJT, reach Kashgar at 10:40 BJT, leave Kashgar at 13:00 BJT, and land in Islamabad at 11:50 local time. The return flight CZ8020 will take off from Islamabad at 13:20 local time, touch down in Kashgar at 18:20 BJT, depart from Kashgar at 20:50 BJT, and conclude the journey in Urumqi at 22:45 BJT.

The reinstatement of the Urumqi-Kashgar-Islamabad route will bring the total number of routes operated by China Southern Airlines between Xinjiang and Pakistani cities to three, complementing existing connections from Urumqi to Islamabad and Lahore.

This decision aligns with China Southern’s strategy to expand international operations and bolster connectivity between China and Pakistan. The resumed route aims to provide convenient air travel options for passengers commuting between Xinjiang and various cities in Pakistan, thereby fostering stronger economic and cultural ties between the two regions.