Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is gearing up to relaunch direct flights to Europe in early January, following the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) recent decision to lift a four-year ban.
The ban, imposed in 2020 after a PIA crash in Karachi killed 97 people, cost the airline nearly $150 million annually. The restrictions were tied to concerns over pilot licensing and Pakistan’s compliance with international safety standards.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez confirmed that the first flight from Islamabad to Paris will take off in early January. He added that EASA is now “fully satisfied” with PIA’s safety protocols, and efforts are underway to expand services to other European destinations.
The 2020 crash, caused by pilot error, prompted a government investigation revealing that about a third of Pakistani pilots had cheated on exams. PIA grounded 150 pilots at the time.
Travel agents report rising inquiries from passengers eager to book flights. Hafeez promised swift announcements for additional routes, saying, “If you have breakfast in Pakistan, you’ll be having lunch in Paris.”
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