The National Airline of Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has been profitable since March 2024, a government official to Parliament said Wednesday.
During the National Assembly questions, parliamentary secretary Zeb Jaffar said that Pia had recovered financially and resumed flights to the European Union, including services to Paris.
Responding to a MNA Sharmila Faruqi consultation, Jaffar said that the harmful comments made previously on the floor of the house had negatively impacted the performance and reputation of the airline.
“The country felt the consequences of those comments,” he said.
He referred to a controversial statement made in Parliament by former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI), which resulted in a prohibition of the flights of the International Airlines (PIA) of Pakistan to multiple countries.
Jaffar confirmed that the renewed commitment to the EU Aviation Security Agency (EASA) had allowed PIA to restart flights to Europe. He added that the discussions with the aviation regulators of the United Kingdom were also progressing.
The conversations are also underway with the Turkish airlines to improve international connectivity for Pakistani passengers, he said.
The Government aims to expand PIA operations to profitable destinations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Jaffar emphasized that these efforts are ongoing and their results will become more evident in the coming months.
Pia also launched direct flights from Lahore to Baku from Azerbaijan, as part of his continuous impulse to strengthen international air links and promote tourism.
Last month, PIA reported its first annual gain in 21 years and marked a significant change as it advanced with the plans to sell the airline
According to the documents seen by Bloomberg, PIA registered profits per share of RS5.01 for the year ending in December, its first profitable year since 2003, based on audited financial statements.
