ISLAMABAD: The first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris took off on Friday as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its long-awaited flights to Europe after more than four years, marking a major milestone for the national flag carrier. PIA’s license to operate in Europe was suspended in June 2020 due to concerns over the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international aviation standards. The flight took off from Islamabad at around 12:40 and became the only carrier to offer a direct route to and from the European Union. “This is my first time traveling with PIA,” said passenger Shumaila Rana, a 38-year-old teacher living in Germany. “I’m nervous and have a lot of anxiety, but I hope it’s a good flight. Federal Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, who saw off the passengers at the airport, said flight PK 749 was 100% booked, signaling a positive turnaround for the airline, which has faced several challenges in recent years. Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Asif, who saw off the passengers at the Islamabad airport, said flight PK 749 was 100% booked, signaling a positive turnaround for the airline, which has faced several challenges in recent years. Speaking at a ceremony after the flight took off, Asif said that the national airline’s services to Europe are operational again and PIA is now connecting Pakistan with the French capital. The minister highlighted that the closure of several profitable PIA routes in the past had severely affected its operations. He also noted that these losses have affected the services provided to overseas Pakistanis, especially in Europe. Asif pointed out that PIA used to be a symbol of national pride, with the airline offering basic services such as free transportation of the bodies of deceased Pakistanis back to their homeland. However, this service has been discontinued, leaving many overseas Pakistanis without this vital support. The minister also expressed hope for the future of the national carrier, saying that the resumption of PIA’s European routes is just the beginning. He confirmed that direct flights to the UK will soon begin, further expanding the airline’s reach. Furthermore, he suggested that privatization of PIA could be a potential solution to ensure the long-term success of the airline and ensure its future profitability. “Pakistan’s green and white flag is once again flying in European skies,” Khawaja Asif declared, referring to the airline’s renewed presence in the continent’s airspace. He also took the opportunity to criticize the negative impact caused by the former minister’s “irresponsible” statements about PIA over the years. He called for accountability on the part of those who made the damaging remarks, stressing that such remarks should not damage the reputation of the national carrier. The successful launch of PIA’s maiden flight to Paris is seen as a major step in the airline’s recovery with 323 passengers on board for the historic journey. According to a report published in The News, PIA will operate two weekly direct flights to Paris with cost-effective fares. Debt-laden PIA was banned from flying to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States in June 2020, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s plunged into a street in Karachi, killing nearly 100 people. Former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwa blamed the disaster on human error by pilots and air traffic control, following allegations that nearly a third of his pilot licenses were fake or dubious. In November, the European Aviation Safety Agency announced that it had lifted the ban, but the UK and US flying ban remains in place. At the time, it said it had “restored sufficient confidence” in the oversight capabilities of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. The airline flies to several cities in Pakistan, including the mountainous north, as well as the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia. The ban has cost the loss-making airline 40 billion rupees ($144 million) a year in revenue.
