Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume direct flights to Paris this Friday, following a suspension of over four years, as reported by ARY News. This development is seen as a significant step towards boosting business, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
According to a PIA spokesperson, direct flights between Islamabad and Paris will operate twice weekly starting January 10, 2025. The inaugural flight, PK749, will depart from Islamabad Airport at 12:00 PM, carrying over 300 passengers.
A simple send-off ceremony will be held at Islamabad Airport, attended by the Minister for Defense, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PIA Acting CEO Khurram Mushtaq, and the Secretary of Aviation.
The spokesperson further stated that the Boeing 777 assigned for the Paris route is fully booked, reflecting the strong demand for the service. Subsequent flights on this route have also been fully reserved in advance. Passengers arriving on the first flight will receive a warm welcome at Paris Airport.
In addition to Paris operations, PIA has announced plans to expand its domestic and international services. Beginning in January, the airline will utilize Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft for these new routes.
Starting January 20, PIA will launch two weekly flights between Sialkot and Bahrain, followed by a weekly flight from Lahore to Kuwait on January 25.
The airline will also introduce two weekly flights between Lahore and Dammam from January 22, and one weekly flight between Faisalabad and Jeddah starting January 20. Furthermore, PIA will commence weekly flights between Peshawar and Karachi on January 25, and between Sialkot and Doha on January 21.