PIA looking for new graphic designer after Paris flights memefest?

Days after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was trolled by netizens from Pakistan as well as around the globe over its announcement of resumption of flights to the European Union (EU), a social media post has claimed the national carrier is looking for a new graphic designer.

PIA on January 10 announced the resumption of direct flights to France after four years as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted the ban on its flights to the region. The national carrier had been banned by the EU over safety concerns following 2020’s Karachi crash and then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar’s claims that around 40 percent of Pakistani pilots had fake licences. 

Though last week’s development was positive, the official handle of PIA on X was brutally trolled for uploading a picture that seemed more like a “threat” than an announcement.

“PIA please change the angle of your plane. It's looking like 9/11 here," wrote one user. "I think every Pakistani should clarify that this plane isn't aiming for the Eiffel Tower. And the designer should be fired ASAP," wrote another.

"🤦‍♂Who approved this graphic? Delete it!! [sic]" said a social media user while others could not believe it was an actual ad. Some users also uploaded a PIA advertisement in a French newspaper from the 20th century wherein a PIA plane’s shadow could be seen on the Twin Towers in New York.

"Keep the plane a little to the side. Flights have resumed with great difficulty," wrote journalist Waseem Abbasi.

With the post going viral globally and reports by foreign media outlets also taking digs at the national carrier, another post by a LinkedIn user on Tuesday suggested the PIA had let go of its designer and was now looking for someone to fill the vacant position.

“We’re hiring a graphic designer,” said the post shared by one Jaffar Nisar.

However, following an investigation into the viral post and speaking to an official concerned, The Current can confirm that the post was actually a meme. The same was also confirmed by Nasir, a graphic designer, who said so in a comment on the post on his LinkedIn profile.

On Friday, PIA’s flight PK 749 took off to Paris from the Islamabad International Airport, carrying 330 passengers and 14 crew members.

The inaugural flight ceremony was attended by a multitude of high-profile senior officials such as PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and director generals of both the Civil Aviation Authority as well as the Pakistan Airport Authority.

Addressing media at the occasion, the minister commended the hard work PIA officials had displayed for Europe to reopen its airports to Pakistan. He also expressed great dissatisfaction with his predecessor, the former aviation minister, whose statements Asif believed negatively impacted the aviation sector.