Islamabad, January 10, 2025: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed direct flights to Paris after a hiatus of over four years. The inaugural flight, PK-749, departed from Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) on Friday at 12:10 pm, carrying 330 passengers and 14 crew members aboard a Boeing 777 (AP-BGK) aircraft.
The ceremony marking the resumption of the Islamabad-Paris route was attended by Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, and senior officials from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan Airport Authority.
Speaking at the event, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif commended the efforts of PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority in meeting international aviation standards, making the resumption of European flights possible. He also expressed gratitude to European Union aviation officials for evaluating and approving Pakistan’s compliance with their standards.
The minister highlighted the financial challenges faced by PIA, noting that the airline has suffered losses amounting to hundreds of billions of rupees over the past four and a half years. Currently burdened with an 800-billion-rupee debt, PIA’s profitable routes to Europe and the UK had been suspended during this period, forcing Pakistanis to travel abroad at significantly higher costs.
Khawaja Asif criticized the former aviation minister’s controversial statement that led to the ban on Pakistani airlines flying to the EU and UK, describing it as a severe blow to the aviation sector. Despite these setbacks, he expressed pride in Pakistan’s ability to regain international confidence, announcing plans for PIA to soon resume direct flights to the United Kingdom.
PIA has launched the Islamabad-Paris route with a newly designed livery featuring the Eiffel Tower on the tail and the slogan “I Love Paris” on the nose of the aircraft. The Boeing 777 has been refurbished to meet stringent European Union aviation standards.
The route will operate twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays, and has already seen strong demand, with the first two flights fully booked. The service is expected to attract significant interest, particularly from the large Pakistani community residing in France.
To enhance passenger experience, PIA has introduced a wireless in-flight entertainment system, allowing passengers to access media on their personal devices during the journey.
The resumption of flights to Paris follows the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift its four-year ban on Pakistani airlines operating in EU countries. This landmark development has also paved the way for PIA to expand its services to other European destinations.
PIA’s return to Paris marks a significant milestone in its efforts to restore international routes, boost revenue, and strengthen its global footprint in the aviation industry.
