Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif sees off passengers, saying the Paris flight was fully booked.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed its flights to Europe after a four-year hiatus, with its first flight to Paris taking off on Friday.
PIA’s operations in Europe were suspended in June 2020 due to concerns over compliance with international aviation standards.
The flight departed from Islamabad at 12:40 PM, making PIA the only carrier offering direct flights to and from the European Union.
Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, addressing a ceremony after the flight, announced that PIA had reestablished its presence in Europe and now connects Pakistan to the French capital.
He highlighted the positive outlook for the airline, confirming that direct flights to the UK will also commence soon, further expanding PIA’s operations.
Asif criticized past decisions that led to losses for PIA and emphasized that restoring European routes was a significant step toward the airline’s revival.
The successful takeoff of the Paris flight, with 323 passengers on board, is seen as a milestone in PIA’s recovery efforts.
