Sadpara Air Safari inaugurated by Pakistan International Airlines

Pakistan’s national flag carrier PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) has relaunched its scenic Air Safari service and, in doing so, has officially renamed it Sadpara Air Safari in honour of Muhammad Ali Sadpara who lost his life in February this year along with John Snorri Sigurjónsson and Juan Pablo Mohr Prieto while attempting a winter ascent of K2.

The Air Safari takes off from Islamabad every Saturday and on its way to Skardu flies over K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, the Gasherbrum peaks, the Deosai plains and the famous Said ul Maluk Lake. After allowing time for a short visit to region’s biggest city, the flight returns back to the country’s capital.

The service had originally been launched in 2018 but subsequently ceased operations temporarily. The inaugural flight of the Sadpara Ali Safari service took place yesterday and the 91 passengers included Spanish mountaineer Carlos Garranzo whose post is published below, as well as Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of Ali Sadpara, who staed"It’s landmark achievement for the national carrier in development of tourism."

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A post shared by Carlos Garranzo - MV Alvarez (@alpymon)

Our beloved official Karim Dad Chugtai @DCSkardu & I warmly welcomed PIA crew and honourable guests/passengers of 1st flight of #PIASadparaSafari at Skardu. It’s landmark achievement for the national carrier in development of tourism @Official_PIA @GovtofGB #HonourAliSadpara pic.twitter.com/UikvV6jRs4

— Sajid Ali Sadpara (@sajid_sadpara) June 19, 2021