Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Friday that it will restart flights to Europe in January, beginning with Paris, following the lifting of a ban by the EU aviation regulator.
According to a report by ARY News on Saturday, PIA’s EU operating rights were suspended in June 2020 due to concerns about Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority and its ability to meet international aviation standards.
“We have received approval for the first flight schedule we submitted,” said PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan. Bookings for the January 10 flight to Paris aboard a Boeing 777 will open on December 9.
The ban followed an investigation into a scandal over the authenticity of pilots’ licenses, which came to light after a plane crash in 2020 that claimed 97 lives. PIA will soon request approval from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to the UK. Once cleared, popular destinations such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham will be targeted.
The suspension has cost PIA approximately 40 billion rupees ($144 million) in annual revenue. While PIA holds 23% of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market, its fleet of 34 planes struggles to compete with Middle Eastern carriers, which dominate with 60%, partly due to the lack of direct flights.
Attempts to privatize PIA have faltered, with only a single offer received, falling short of the airline’s asking price.
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