A Pakistan International Airlines flight took off from Islamabad to Paris after a gap of more than four years on Friday.
A spokesperson for P.I.A. announced that the airline will operate two direct flights to Paris each week.
Tickets for the inaugural flight have been fully booked, and it is scheduled to leave Islamabad at 12:10pm.
The statement also mentioned that P.I.A. is offering tickets at competitive prices, and passengers will have access to internet services on their mobile phones, tablets, and laptops during the flight.
A Boeing 777 is being used for the long-awaited flight.
During a ceremony at Islamabad Airport to celebrate the resumption of PIA flights to Europe, Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that a particular “statement” resulted in the suspension of a profitable route for PIA, leading to losses amounting to hundreds of billions of rupees. He emphasized that his government worked diligently to restore these flights in the shortest time possible.
The minister announced that flights to additional European countries will begin soon. To celebrate the relaunch, PIA has adorned its Boeing 777 with a model of the Eiffel Tower and the slogan “I Love Paris.” The airline will operate direct flights between Islamabad and Paris twice a week, with the first two flights fully booked.
A PIA spokesperson highlighted that this new route meets a longstanding demand from the Pakistani community in France and Pakistan, offering affordable fares and time savings.
The airline has introduced a wireless in-flight entertainment system, allowing passengers to use their own devices. PIA has also partnered with Air France for connections to 21 destinations in Europe and the UK via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif congratulated the management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on the resumption of international flight operations after four and a half years. Speaking at Islamabad International Airport, he noted that the EASA lifted the ban on PIA’s international flights due to the government’s efforts.
Asif highlighted that overseas Pakistanis previously had to travel to Doha or Dubai for international flights and acknowledged the significant financial losses PIA faced, with debts reaching Rs80 billion. He mentioned that the suspension of the international route stemmed from a statement by a former civil aviation minister.
Two weeks before, PIA announced plans to expand its operational fleet and network, aiming to Europe and the United Kingdom.
