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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume its flight operations to Europe, with its first flight scheduled to depart for Paris from Islamabad today, Friday, marking the end of a four-year-long suspension.
In a statement, the national carrier confirmed that it will operate two flights per week, on Fridays and Sundays. The inaugural flight, PK749, is set to depart from Islamabad International Airport at 11:30 am on January 10. Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, along with the PIA acting chairman and other officials, will be present at a simple ceremony to see off the passengers.
The flight, which is fully booked with over 300 passengers, has seen significant demand. PIA has already sold all tickets for this first flight, and reports indicate that 80% of the seats for the next flight have also been booked.
Upon arrival in Paris, passengers will be welcomed by Pakistani officials at the airport.
Before the suspension, PIA operated flights to multiple European cities, including Barcelona, Birmingham, Bradford, and London. The airline now plans to reintroduce flights to Copenhagen, Oslo, and Amsterdam as part of its strategy to rebuild its European network.
In addition to the European destinations, PIA is also working towards resuming services to New York, pending approval from the United States. To support its expanding operations to Europe, the UK, and the US, PIA has allocated six Boeing 777 aircraft.
This development follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifting the ban on Pakistani airlines, following improvements in safety conditions. The suspension, which started in 2020, has now ended, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan’s aviation sector.
