Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the nation's biggest carrier, plans to double the number of flights to India starting next month as improved political relations between the two nations encourage cross-border travel.

Starting April 15, the Karachi-based airline will operate 15 flights every week to India, spokesman Imran Gardezi said. There will be five flights between Karachi and Mumbai, three between Karachi and Delhi and four between Lahore and Delhi, he said.

"We have the option of flying bigger planes if more people travel,'' Gardezi said. The company may decide to fly Boeing's 747 planes, which can carry 400 people, compared with the present 250-passenger Airbus SAS planes, he said.

India and Pakistan resumed air links in January as part of measures aimed at easing tensions. The countries severed rail, road and air links in January 2002 following a December 2001 attack on Parliament in New Delhi.