PIA to resume flights to Europe from next week

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday announced it would resume flights to Europe in January, starting with Paris. The decision followed the lifting of a ban imposed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in 2020.

PIA's authorisation to operate in the EU was suspended over concerns regarding Pakistan's ability to comply with international aviation standards, particularly after a plane crash in Karachi that killed 97 people. The tragedy revealed a scandal involving the validity of pilots’ licences, prompting the suspension.

PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed: “We have got approval for the first flight's schedule we had filed.” He stated that bookings for the flight would open on December 9, with the inaugural flight of a Boeing 777 to Paris scheduled for January 10.

PIA also planned to approach Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT) to regain permission to operate in the UK. According to Khan, the airline identified London, Manchester, and Birmingham as priority destinations upon receiving clearance.

The suspension of PIA’s operations in Europe and the UK had significantly impacted the national flag carrier. Resuming these routes was seen as a step towards restoring the airline’s reputation and expanding its international reach.