PIA resumes direct flights to Paris today

ISLAMABAD: Pak­istan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume its direct flights to Paris on Friday (today) following the four-and-a-half-year ban.

The relaunch follows the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift the ban on Pakistani airlines, allowing them to operate in EU countries. The ban was imposed in 2020 following a PIA plane crash in Karachi that killed 97 people and other administrative and operational issues.

In a statement, the national flag carrier said the first flight, PK-749 will take off from Islamabad International Airport at 12:10 pm on Friday, carrying 330 passengers.

Initially, two weekly flights will operate on Fridays and Sundays, with plans to gradually increase the frequency, it added.

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.

Avi­ation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Secretary Aviation, PIA Acting CEO Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, and other senior officials will see off the flight.

A PIA spokesperson said, “The Boeing 777 of PIA will depart for Paris fully loaded,” adding that the new service has been received with a warm welcome from the passengers.”

“The next four flights are also fully booked in advance We anticipate strong demand for this route in the coming months,” he said.

For maximum experience, the airline has introduced a wireless in-flight entertainment system on the route, allowing passengers to access entertainment on their own devices.