PIA plane takes off for Paris, marking flights resumption to Europe

A sure-shot relief for Europe-bound Pakistani travellers as the Pak­istan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its direct flights to Paris Friday, marking the end of a four-and-a-half-year-long suspension, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

PIA’s first flight after the long gap was fully booked as it took off from Islamabad International Airport carrying 323 passengers to the French capital.

A Boeing 777 was used for the long-awaited flight. The PIA will operate two weekly flights to France.

PK-750 will land in Paris at 4:55 pm local time and then will depart Paris for Pakistan at 7:00 pm local time. The plane will return to Islamabad Airport at 6:55 am on Saturday morning.

Addressing a ceremony at the Islamabad Airport to mark the resumption of PIA flights to Europe, Minister for Defence and Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that “a statement” led to the closure of a profitable route for the PIA, causing loss of hundreds of billions of rupees. “Our government through sheer hard work got these flights resumed in shortest possible time,” he added.

The minister said that very soon flights to other European countries will start.

To celebrate the rela­unch, PIA has decorated the aircraft with a model of the Eiffel Tower on its tail and the slogan “I Love Paris” on the nose. The Boeing 777 has been prepared in line with European Union aviation standards.

A PIA spokesman said the airline is now expanding its wings to Europe and will operate direct flights between Islamabad and Paris twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays. He said the new service has been well-received, with full bookings for the first two flights.

The spokesman insisted that this direct route to Paris addresses a long-standing demand from the Pakistani community in France and Pakistan, offering affordable fares and time savings.

The airline has introduced a wireless in-flight entertainment system on the route, allowing passengers to access entertainment on their own devices. Additionally, PIA has partnered with Air France to provide onward connections to 21 destinations across Europe and the UK via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

The relaunch of PIA flights follows the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift the ban on Pakistani airlines operating in EU countries. The ban, which has been in place for over four years, was lifted recently, enabling PIA to resume services in Europe and the UK.

Khawaja Asif greets PIA over resumption Europe flights

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif congratulated management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for resumption of international flights operation after a period of four and a half years.

Addressing the event at Islamabad International Airport on Friday, Khawaja Asif said that after hectic efforts of current government EASA had lifted the ban imposed on PIA international flights.

He said that prior to this overseas Pakistanis have to first travel to Doha or Dubai for taking an international flight. He congratulated all those persons who were involved in restoration of international operations.

He said that PIA suffered huge financial loss while its debts climbed to Rs80 billion. He said that our international route was suspended after a statement of former minister for civil aviation.

He said that PIA will start flights for Britain and other European destinations in near future. He said that in the past PIA was among one of the best airlines of the world. Even passengers from other countries prefer to travel via PIA, he added.

He said that passengers can travel to USA via Paris through transit flights.

He revealed that PIA will operate three weekly flights for Britain and passengers from all countries will also take benefit.

Khawaja Asif said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself monitored the entire operation for restoration of international flight operation.

He disclosed that Pakistan Post will mark a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion. Later the stamp was handed over to minister for civil aviation. 

At the end, a cake-cutting ceremony was also held.

‘Gonna be a good flight”

"This is the first time I am travelling with PIA," said passenger Shumaila Rana, a 38-year-old school teacher living in Germany.

"I'm nervous and I'm having a lot of anxiety, but I'm hoping it's gonna be a good flight," she told AFP.

Debt-ridden PIA was banned in June 2020 from flying to the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s plunged into a Karachi street, killing nearly 100 people.

The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the licences for its pilots were fake or dubious.

In 2016, a PIA plane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed during a flight from the remote north to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people.

In November, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced it had lifted the ban, however it remains barred from flying in the UK and the United States.

At the time, it said it had "re-established sufficient confidence" in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority's oversight capabilities.

The airline flies to multiple cities inside Pakistan, including the mountainous north, as well as to the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

Reporter Tayyab Saif