After a duration of four-years ban, Pakistan International Airlines PIA has resumed its direct flights to Paris on Friday in Pakistan. The first flight which took off from Islamabad was carried 330 passengers and 16 crew members. On Friday, the first flight PK-749 which took off from Islamabad International Airport (IIAP) at 12:10 pm, using a Boeing 777 (AP-BGK) airplane.
In this Launching ceremony of first Flight, many senior officials, including Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, CEO Air Vice Marshal of PIA Amir Hayat, and the directors general of the Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Airport Authority were present. Speaking at the inauguration of the flights, Khawaja Asif paid tribute to the efforts of PIA and Civil Aviation for restoring direct flights to Europe. He also express appreciation to European Union aviation officials for accessing Pakistan’s standards.
The Minister admit that PIA has experienced significant losses, equal to hundreds of billions in the duration of ban over four and half years, and currently it has debt of 800 billion rupees because profitable routes were closed. Khawaja Asif also condemned the former aviation minister announcement, stating that it caused global damage to the Aviation sector. He also indicate that for the last four and half years Pakistanis were forced to travel abroad at high costs.
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Khawaja Asif also expressed the dignity in Pakistan’s ability to meet international standards, and also said that PIA will soon launch flights to United Kingdom. It should be noted that airline has launched this route with special design, Promoting a model of the Eiffel Tower on the tail and the slogan “I Love Paris” on the nose. The aircraft Boeing 777 has been renovated to meet European Union aviation standards.
PIA plans to set off direct flights between Islamabad and Paris twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays. The airline announced high demands with first 2 flights already fully booked. They also said that they are expecting significant demand specially from Pakistani communities in France.
PIA has announced a special feature a wireless entertainment system, to improve in-flight experience that passengers can use their own devices to access media. the reopening of Islamabad-Paris route follows the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recent conclusion to lift ban on Pakistani airlines flying to European countries. This ban has been placed over four and half years but it was lifted recently and allowing PIA to resume their flights to Europe and United Kingdom.
