ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines on Friday said it will resume flights to Europe in January, starting from Paris, after the European Union aviation regulator lifted the ban on the national flag carrier.
PIA’s authorization to operate in the European Union was suspended in June 2020 due to concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.
“We have received approval for the first flight schedule that we filed,” PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said, adding that the airline’s scheduled January 10 flight of a Boeing 777 to Paris was cancelled. Bookings will start on December 9.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Britain suspended PIA’s permission to operate in the region after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of pilots’ licenses after a plane crash that killed 97 people. .
Khan said PIA would soon approach the UK’s Department of Transport (DfT) for permission to resume routes to the UK.
He added that once cleared by the DfT, London, Manchester and Birmingham would be the most sought-after locations.