Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced the launch of a new direct flight route connecting Lahore to Paris, offering Pakistanis direct travel to the French capital without the need for layovers. In a statement released on Thursday, the national flag carrier revealed that this new service, part of the expansion of its restored European network after a lengthy suspension, will provide weekly non-stop flights from Lahore to Paris every Wednesday, as reported by The News.
“The PIA’s first flight from Lahore to Paris will take off on June 18,” the airline confirmed. “A weekly flight from Lahore to Paris will take off directly on Wednesday.” This development comes months after the airline resumed its operations in Europe in January, following the lifting of a four-and-a-half-year ban by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The ban was originally imposed in July 2020 after a fake pilot license scandal emerged, prompting European regulators to restrict PIA’s access to EU airspace.
PIA’s return to European skies commenced with a flight from Islamabad to Paris on January 10, marking a significant milestone for the embattled carrier. Currently, PIA is the sole Pakistani airline operating direct flights to and from the European Union. The resumption and expansion of routes to Europe are viewed as integral to PIA’s broader efforts to regain international credibility and cater to the significant Pakistani diaspora residing in European countries.
The new Lahore-Paris route is expected to benefit both business and leisure travelers, as well as families seeking convenient travel options between Pakistan and France. PIA officials have expressed hope that this route will bolster revenue and enhance passenger confidence in the airline’s services. Further details on ticket pricing and reservations are anticipated to be released in the coming days. Aviation experts are closely monitoring the airline’s return to European destinations, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining sustained safety standards and operational transparency to rebuild trust among international partners and passengers.
