ISLAMABAD:
After a long-awaited resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, the national flag carrier took to the skies of Europe once again, with its first flight to Paris touching down at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Friday.
The flight departed Islamabad at 12:40 pm, becoming the only carrier to offer a direct route to and from the European Union.
The inaugural flight, carrying 309 passengers, was sent off with pomp and circumstance at Islamabad International Airport. Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, flanked by embassy staff and PIA officials, presided over the festivities, cutting a ceremonial ribbon and cake.
The minister hailed the occasion as “a historic day,” marking a new chapter for the airline. As a gesture of goodwill, Asif boarded the plane before take-off to bid the passengers farewell.
According to a social media post by the Embassy of Pakistan in France, PIA will now operate direct flights between Islamabad and Paris twice weekly, on Fridays and Sundays.
Direct flights are expected to strengthen air connectivity between Pakistan and France, fostering enhanced people-to-people contact and trade and tourism opportunities.
Speaking at the event, the aviation minister reminisced about PIA’s golden era when it was a leader in global aviation. “There was a time when PIA helped other airlines find their feet. But sadly, we became dependent on them to carry our passengers,” he lamented.
He lamented the period of decline, particularly the fallout from a parliamentary statement that led to severe consequences, including the suspension of direct flights to Europe for over four years.
“Our overseas Pakistanis were unable to travel directly to their homeland, forced to take connecting flights via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or other hubs, increasing travel costs and inconvenience,” he said.
He termed the incident “a tragedy of accountability lapses” and hailed the resumption of Paris-bound flights as a step toward reclaiming PIA’s lost glory.
Asif thanked all stakeholders for their efforts in meeting global aviation standards, paving the way for direct flights to France. He further announced plans to expand operations to the UK and the US in the coming days, expressing confidence that PIA would regain its esteemed status.
The inaugural ceremony was also attended by PIA CEO Aamir Hayat, Secretary Aviation, DG Airport Authority Muhammad Shafi Dar and Airport Manager Aftab Gilani.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation on the departure of the first flight of PIA to Paris following the restoration of the carrier’s flight operation to Europe.
The prime minister, in a statement, said the restoration of PIA flights to Europe will facilitate overseas Pakistanis as they will benefit from the direct flights.
He noted that due to the suspension of flights, the national airline had to incur huge losses worth billions of dollars and also had to lose its reputation.
“By the grace of Allah Almighty, the incumbent government has restored the identity of the national airlines,” the prime minister said.
After the restoration of flights to Europe, PIA will move towards new development and progress, he added.
In this regard, the prime minister said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Aviation Khawaja Asif, the relevant departments and their officers and staff deserved appreciation.
Plans underway to expand operations
Meanwhile, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan also celebrated the day as historic but stressed the need for a sustained effort to restore the airline’s former prestige.
He announced that while the initial schedule includes two weekly flights to Europe, plans were underway to expand operations in response to high passenger demand.
Flights to additional European destinations are being explored as part of PIA’s broader revival strategy, he shared.
“This is the first time I am travelling with PIA,” said passenger Shumaila Rana, a 38-year-old school teacher living in Germany. “I’m nervous and I’m having a lot of anxiety, but I’m hoping it’s gonna be a good flight.”
Debt-ridden PIA was banned in June 2020 from flying to the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s plunged into a Karachi street, killing nearly 100 people.
The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the licences for its pilots were fake or dubious.
In 2016, a PIA plane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed during a flight from the remote north to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people.
In November, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced it had lifted the ban, however, it remains barred from flying in the UK and the United States.
At the time, it said it had “re-established sufficient confidence” in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s oversight capabilities.
The airline flies to multiple cities inside the country, including the mountainous north, as well as to the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
PIA, which employs 7,000 people, has long been accused of being bloated and poorly runhobbled by unpaid bills, a poor safety record and regulatory issues.
The government has said it is committed to privatising the debt-ridden airline and has been scrambling to find a buyer.
Late last year, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price.
The government hopes the opening of European routes, which officials expect will be followed by a similar announcement by the UK later this year, will boost its selling potential.
PIA posted losses of $270 million in 2023. Its liabilities were nearly $3 billion, about five times the total worth of its assets.
In the same year, amid a national economic crisis, dozens of domestic flights were cancelled when it could not afford fuel for its planes.
PIA came into being in 1955 when the government nationalised a loss-making commercial airline and enjoyed rapid growth until the 1990s.
(With input from AFP)
