The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume direct flights to Paris on January 10, 2025, after the European Union aviation regulator lifted a ban on the national flag carrier.

Ambassador of Pakistan to France Asim Iftikhar Ahmad met with the PIA’s marketing representatives to discuss preparations for the launch of the direct flights to Paris.

“Direct flights between Pakistan and France will facilitate travel, and contribute towards enhancing business, tourism, family visits and people-people contacts,” a press release issued on Sunday said.

PIA’s authorisation to operate in the EU was suspended in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Britain suspended PIA’s permission to operate in the region after Pakistan began probing a scandal over the validity of pilots’ licences in the wake of a plane crash that killed 97 people.