The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to operate flights to the Saidu Sharif Airport in Swat in a bid to boost tourism, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

As per details, the airport was closed in 2004 due to deteriorating law and order situation in the area and remained inactive for a long time

As part of the initiative, the national carrier decided to operate a test flight to the airport using an ATR aircraft in the last week of March.

The development work of Saidu Sharif Airport has now been completed and it will be opened for the arrival and departure of planes as soon as permission is granted by the federal government.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the runway of Syed Sharif Airport is ready along with the other facilities will be provided to PIA on one week notice.

CAA said planning has started for the landing of Airbus 320 aircraft at Saidu Sharif Airport and work on this will start soon.

Established in 1978, the airport, which handled two daily flights from Islamabad and Peshawar, was closed during militancy in Swat valley.