Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has taken flight to Europe again, resuming its Islamabad-Paris route after a four-and-a-half-year grounding. The inaugural flight, PK-749, departed on Friday at 12:10 pm, marking a symbolic takeoff for the national carrier.
A Boeing 777 (AP-BGK), adorned with a striking Eiffel Tower livery and the slogan “I Love Paris,” carried 330 passengers and 14 crew members. The aircraft, now refurbished to meet stringent European Union aviation standards, also boasts a wireless entertainment system, letting passengers stream media on their own devices.
The ceremony at Islamabad International Airport saw top officials, including Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, celebrate the milestone. Khawaja Asif praised the collaboration between PIA and aviation authorities for reaching European standards, while acknowledging the financial turbulence the airline has faced, with debts soaring to 800 billion rupees.
The minister also took aim at previous leadership, blaming careless remarks for damaging Pakistan’s aviation sector, which left travelers shelling out extra for alternate routes. However, he expressed optimism, hinting at PIA’s plans to soon touch down in the UK.
Operating twice weekly, on Fridays and Sundays, the Islamabad-Paris route has already seen an overwhelming response, with the first two flights fully booked. This comeback follows the European Aviation Safety Agency’s lifting of a long-standing ban, clearing the runway for PIA to reconnect with Europe and beyond.
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