ISLAMABAD:
After the long-awaited resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, the national flag carrier once again took to the skies of Europe, with its first flight to Paris landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Friday.
The flight took off from Islamabad at 12:40 p.m., becoming the only airline to offer a direct route to and from the European Union.
The inaugural flight, carrying 309 passengers, was seen off with pomp and circumstance at the Islamabad International Airport. Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, flanked by embassy staff and PIA officials, presided over the festivities and cut a ceremonial ribbon and cake.
The minister called the occasion “a historic day”, marking a new chapter for the airline. As a gesture of goodwill, Asif boarded the plane before take-off to bid farewell to the passengers.
According to a post by Pakistan Embassy in France on social media, PIA will now operate direct flights between Islamabad and Paris twice a week on Fridays and Sundays.
The direct flights are expected to strengthen air connectivity between Pakistan and France, fostering better people-to-people contacts and trade and tourism opportunities.
Speaking at the event, the aviation minister recalled the golden era of PIA when it was a leader in global aviation. “There was a time when PIA helped other airlines find their place. But unfortunately, we became dependent on them to transport our passengers,” he lamented.
He regretted the period of decline, in particular the consequences of a parliamentary declaration that had serious consequences, including the suspension of direct flights to Europe for more than four years.
“Our overseas Pakistanis were unable to travel directly to their homeland and were forced to take connecting flights via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or other hubs, increasing travel costs and inconvenience,” he said.
He called the incident “a tragedy of lack of responsibility” and hailed the resumption of Paris-bound flights as a step towards regaining PIA’s lost glory.
Asif thanked all stakeholders for their efforts in meeting global aviation standards, paving the way for direct flights to France. Furthermore, it announced plans to expand its operations to the United Kingdom and the United States in the coming days, expressing confidence that PIA would regain its prestigious status.
The inaugural ceremony was also attended by PIA CEO Aamir Hayat, Secretary Aviation, DG Airport Authority Muhammad Shafi Dar and Airport Director Aftab Gilani.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation on the departure of PIA’s first flight to Paris following the restoration of the airline’s flight operations to Europe.
The Prime Minister, in a statement, said that restoration of PIA flights to Europe will facilitate overseas Pakistanis as they will benefit from direct flights.
He pointed out that due to the suspension of flights the national airline had to suffer huge losses worth billions of dollars and also lost its reputation.
“By the grace of Almighty Allah, the present government has restored the identity of national airlines,” the prime minister said.
After the restoration of flights to Europe, PIA will move towards new development and progress, he added.
In this regard, the Prime Minister said that Deputy Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, relevant departments and their officials and staff deserved recognition.
Plans underway to expand operations
Meanwhile, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan also hailed the day as historic but stressed the need for a sustained effort to restore the airline’s former prestige.
He announced that while the initial schedule includes two weekly flights to Europe, there are plans underway to expand operations in response to high passenger demand.
Flights to additional European destinations are being explored as part of PIA’s broader revival strategy, he shared.
“This is the first time I have traveled with PIA,” said passenger Shumaila Rana, a 38-year-old school teacher who lives in Germany. “I’m nervous and I have a lot of anxiety, but I hope it’s a good flight.”
In June 2020, debt-ridden PIA was banned from flying to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s crashed on a Karachi street, killing nearly 100. people.
The disaster was blamed on human error by pilots and air traffic control, and was followed by accusations that nearly a third of its pilots’ licenses were false or dubious.
In 2016, a PIA plane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed during a flight from the remote north to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people.
In November, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced it had lifted the ban; however, it remains unable to fly in the United Kingdom and the United States.
At the time, it said it had “reestablished sufficient confidence” in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s oversight capabilities.
The airline flies to several cities in the country, including the mountainous north, as well as the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
PIA, which employs 7,000 people, has long been accused of being bloated and mismanaged, hampered by unpaid bills, a poor safety record and regulatory problems.
The government has said it is committed to privatizing the debt-ridden airline and has been struggling to find a buyer.
Late last year, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price.
The government hopes the opening of European routes, which officials hope will be followed by a similar announcement by the UK later this year, will boost its sales potential.
PIA posted losses of $270 million in 2023. Its liabilities amounted to nearly $3 billion, roughly five times the value of its total assets.
That same year, in the midst of a national economic crisis, dozens of domestic flights were canceled when he could not pay for fuel for his planes.
PIA was born in 1955 when the government nationalized a loss-making commercial airline and enjoyed rapid growth until the 1990s.
(With contributions from AFP)
