After a hiatus of four and a half years, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its flights to European destinations on Friday, with a flight departing for Paris from Islamabad International Airport.
PIA flight PK-749 carried 300 passengers, including the airline’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khurram Mushtaq.
A simple ceremony was held at the airport to mark the occasion, attended by Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PIA’s acting CEO, and Secretary of Aviation. The dignitaries saw off the passengers as the national carrier took a significant step towards reinstating its European operations.
The national flag carrier expects to earn over Rs107 million in revenue from its inaugural direct flight to Paris after a four-and-a-half-year suspension following the EU’s flight ban in 2020.
The ban, imposed after the crash of PIA’s flight PK 8303 and concerns over pilot licence validity, has been lifted, allowing PIA to restart its fights for Europe. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that nearly all seats for the round trip, Islamabad-Paris and Paris-Islamabad, were fully booked.
“The airline has received strong demand for the new route, with both inaugural flights sold out,” the spokesperson said, adding that PIA has introduced an intranet wireless entertainment system on board. Passengers can access content through their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops.
The national carrier will operate two weekly direct flights to Paris. Despite the high demand, nearly 40% of business class seats on the inaugural flight are occupied by PIA officials.
The spokesperson also highlighted the cost-effective tickets and time savings offered by the direct flights, which are expected to benefit passengers traveling between Pakistan and France.
