PIA to resume direct flights to Paris in June
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume its flight operations to Paris in June, marking a significant step forward for the national carrier.
In an address to a delegation from the Council of Economic and Energy Journalists in Islamabad, PIA Chairman Abdullah Hafiz unveiled the anticipated receipt of safety approval from the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) in the imminent future.
“With the imminent clearance from IASA, we are poised to launch flights to Paris by June, followed by the reinstatement of direct flights from Pakistan to Britain’s Heathrow Airport on August 14,” stated Hafiz with assurance.
In anticipation of these pivotal routes, PIA has intensified its efforts in the maintenance and overhaul of its Boeing 777 aircraft fleet.
Presently, seven Boeing 777 aircraft are operational, with an additional two expected to join the fleet within the next two months.
This expansion will equip PIA with a total of nine Boeing 777 planes, facilitating efficient flight operations to both Europe and Britain.
Highlighting Pakistan’s global aviation connectivity, Chairman Hafiz underscored that the country boasts air service agreements with 97 nations worldwide.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had imposed a flight ban on PIA following a tragic plane crash in Karachi in May 2020, which claimed 97 lives.
Subsequent investigations uncovered discrepancies in the licensing procedures for commercial pilots.
It is noteworthy that in November 2023, a delegation from EASA conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and PIA, assessing various aspects such as licensing, flight safety, flight standards, and airworthiness.