After a hiatus of 4.5 years, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its flights to Europe following the lifting of the ban by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The first flight, PK749, departed from Islamabad International Airport to Paris, carrying over 300 passengers, including PIA CEO Aamir Hayat. The flight marked a significant milestone in restoring Pakistan’s national carrier’s reputation and connectivity with Europe.
A special ceremony was held at Islamabad airport to celebrate the occasion, attended by Minister for Aviation Khawaja Asif, the aviation secretary, the Civil Aviation Authority director general, and officials from the French Embassy. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by the aviation minister and French Embassy staff, symbolized the beginning of a new chapter for PIA.
The eight-hour flight is expected to land in Paris at 4 pm local time, where passengers will be welcomed with a celebratory event. The return flight, PK750, is scheduled to depart from Paris the same evening at 7 pm local time. Both flights are fully booked, highlighting strong demand for the service.
PIA will now operate two weekly flights from Islamabad to Paris, on Fridays and Saturdays, catering primarily to overseas Pakistanis and international travelers.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his delight over the resumption of flights, congratulating the nation on this achievement. He emphasized the financial and reputational losses caused by the prolonged suspension and expressed optimism about PIA’s revival.
“The resumption of flights to Europe will provide immense convenience to overseas Pakistanis by enabling direct travel options. By the grace of Allah, we have restored PIA’s image and set it on the path of progress,” the PM remarked.
