PIA to Resume Europe Flights in January

Web Desk — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Friday that it will resume flights to Europe in January, beginning with Paris. This decision comes after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted a ban on the national flag carrier.

The EU suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in June 2020, citing concerns over Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority’s ability to uphold international aviation standards.

PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed, “We have received approval for the first flight schedule we submitted.” He added that bookings for the January 10 flight to Paris, operated by a Boeing 777, will open on December 9.

The suspension in 2020 followed a scandal involving the validity of pilots’ licenses, which came to light during an investigation into a plane crash that killed 97 people. In response, EASA and the UK revoked PIA’s operating permissions in their respective regions.

Khan also stated that PIA plans to seek approval from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) to reinstate flights to Britain. Once authorized, the airline prioritizes routes to London, Manchester, and Birmingham.