PIA To Resume Europe Flights From Lahore
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume nonstop service between Lahore and Paris in June as the carrier looks to rebuild its European network following the lifting of a four-year ban by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume nonstop service between Lahore and Paris in June as the carrier looks to rebuild its European network following the lifting of a four-year ban by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The weekly service between Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport will commence on June 18, operating using Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. It will complement PIA’s existing 2X-weekly Islamabad–Paris service, which resumed in January, and is the sole nonstop link between Pakistan and France at present.
The restoration of nonstop connectivity follows EASA’s decision in late 2024 to reinstate PIA’s operating rights in the European Union (EU). The ban, imposed in May 2020, came after the crash of Flight 8303 in Karachi and the subsequent discovery of irregularities in pilot licensing practices.
EASA said the suspension was lifted due to renewed confidence in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s oversight capabilities, following a series of successful audits and on-site inspections.
Prior to the ban, PIA had a significant footprint in Europe, operating 17 routes across the EU and UK—including services to Barcelona, Copenhagen, Milan and several UK cities. In early 2020, the airline averaged 34 roundtrips per week, offering more than 23,000 two-way seats.
O&D traffic between Pakistan and France totaled approximately 88,400 two-way passengers in 2024, Sabre Market Intelligence data shows, a decline of 4.5% compared to the previous year. Lahore–Paris was the second-largest city pair last year, accounting for around 29,000 passengers, trailing only Islamabad–Paris, which saw 37,100 passengers.
The resumption of the Lahore–Paris route, last served five years ago, coincides with a broader turnaround at PIA. The airline in April reported its first annual profit in 21 years, with a net profit of PKR26.2 billion ($33 million) and an operating profit of PKR9.3 billion for fiscal year 2024. The improvement is credited to wide-ranging reforms in cost structure, workforce efficiency, route optimization and financial discipline.
However, the airline continues to navigate a challenging regional environment, with the European expansion following the recent closure of Pakistani airspace due to heightened tensions with India.
