ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced that its Lahore–Paris route will be temporarily suspended starting mid-September, a spokesperson confirmed, This pause is part of a strategic shift to redirect resources towards resuming flights to the United Kingdom (UK), which is anticipated to happen by mid-October.
PIA had resumed flights to Europe in January after a ban lasting over four years was lifted by European authorities. The airline launched bi-weekly services between Lahore and Paris on June 18. However, Abdullah Hafeez, PIA’s official spokesperson, stated that the last Paris–Lahore flight will operate on September 12, with the final Lahore–Paris service scheduled for September 17.
Hafeez clarified that the route’s suspension is temporary and driven by seasonal demand fluctuations. “This is not a permanent shutdown but a strategic pause,” he explained. “Resources are being shifted to the UK sector, where passenger demand remains higher.”
PIA faced a ban in June 2020 from operating flights to the European Union, UK, and US following a tragic crash in Karachi that resulted in nearly 100 fatalities. Investigations pointed to human error and raised credibility concerns over pilot licenses, prompting the bans.
Subsequently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted the ban in November 2024, and the UK removed Pakistan from its “Air Safety List” on July 16, 2025. These developments have opened the door for Pakistani airlines to seek new permits to operate internationally.
The resumption of flights to the UK now depends on PIA obtaining Third-Country Operator (TCO) approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which the airline expects to secure by mid-September. TCO certification is a safety approval allowing non-UK airlines to operate commercial flights within the UK.
Hafeez indicated that PIA plans to restart Lahore–Paris flights in November, coinciding with the peak winter travel season when diaspora travel tends to increase.
In response to inquiries about how route suspension might affect PIA’s ongoing privatization process, Pakistan’s Privatization Commission did not comment. Hafeez emphasized that the airline’s privatization is primarily driven by financial performance and revenue projections rather than individual route operations.
Currently, Pakistan is seeking to privatize a 51% to 100% stake in PIA as part of broader reforms under a $7 billion IMF program. The airline has accumulated losses exceeding $2.5 billion over the past decade and remains a significant financial burden on the national budget.
In July, four investor groups were prequalified to bid for PIA, including:
- A consortium comprising Lucky Cement, Hub Power Holdings, Kohat Cement, and Metro Ventures.
- A group led by Arif Habib Corp., with members like Fatima Fertilizer, The City School, and Lake City Holdings.
- Fauji Fertilizer Company, a conglomerate backed by the military.
- Private airline Airblue.
