PIA Resumes Flights to Europe with Fully Booked Paris Flight After Four-Year Ban

Jan 10, 2025, 10:01 AM

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its flights to Europe, marking the end of a four-year ban imposed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The first flight departed from Islamabad to Paris on Friday, carrying 323 passengers with a 100% booking rate. The ban, which was lifted in November, followed a deadly crash in Karachi in 2020 that led to the discovery of fraudulent pilot licenses. Despite the resumption of flights to Europe, PIA remains barred from flying to the UK and the US. The airline, which employs 7,000 people, has been struggling with financial difficulties, posting losses of $270 million in 2023 and facing nearly $3 billion in liabilities. The Pakistani government is seeking to privatize the airline, with hopes that the reopening of European routes will enhance its appeal to potential buyers.