RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume direct flights to Paris today (Friday), marking the end of a four-and-a-half-year suspension.
The first flight, PK-749, operated by a Boeing 777 (AP-BGK), will depart from Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) at 12:10 p.m., with 330 passengers and 14 crew members.
The inaugural flight will be flagged off by Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Aviation Secretary, PIA Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, Director Generals of Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Airports Authority, and other senior officials.
To celebrate the relaunch, PIA has decorated the plane with a model of the Eiffel Tower on the tail and the motto “I Love Paris” on the nose. The Boeing 777 has been prepared in accordance with European Union aviation standards.
A PIA spokesperson said the airline is spreading 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 the first two flights fully booked. “We anticipate strong demand for this route in the coming months,” he said.
The spokesperson insisted that this direct route to Paris responds to 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 offer connections to 21 destinations in Europe and the United Kingdom via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).
“PIA is committed to improving connectivity and ensuring convenient travel options for its passengers, both domestically and internationally,” the spokesperson said.
The relaunch follows the decision by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to lift the ban on Pakistani airlines operating in EU countries. The ban, which has been in place for more than four years, was recently lifted, allowing PIA to resume services in Europe and the United Kingdom.
As part of its ongoing fleet rejuvenation, PIA has reintroduced an ATR aircraft that had been in long-term storage. With the addition of this aircraft, PIA has strengthened its domestic operations, particularly on routes to Gilgit, Sukkur, Turbat and Gwadar.
The airline is also focused on improving punctuality, aiming to achieve a 90 percent on-time performance rate. The spokesperson stated that PIA consistently meets this objective on a daily basis.
Published in Amanecer, January 10, 2025.
