Pakistan's state-owned airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), has restarted flights to Europe following the European Union's decision to lift a four-year safety ban. Despite this progress, the airline remains prohibited from operating flights to the United Kingdom and the United States.

A flight operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the state-run carrier, departed from Islamabad for Paris on Friday morning, marking the resumption of direct flights to Europe after the European Union lifted its ban on the airline.

The EU had imposed the ban in 2020 following the crash of one of PIA’s Airbus A-320 planes in Karachi, which resulted in the deaths of 97 people. Concerns over PIA’s safety intensified when then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan revealed that nearly one-third of Pakistani pilots had falsified their qualifications by cheating on their exams.

The ban, lifted in November 2024, significantly impacted PIA’s financial performance, with officials estimating an annual revenue loss of nearly €146 million ($150 million). The airline, which employs close to 7,000 staff, faced major setbacks during this period.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif inaugurated the twice-weekly Paris flights, stating that PIA plans to expand its services to other European destinations soon. In his remarks, he attributed the EU Aviation Safety Agency’s ban to an “irresponsible statement” made by the former aviation minister.

Friday’s flight to Paris, carrying over 300 passengers, was fully booked, according to PIA officials.

Established in 1955 after the nationalization of a failing commercial airline, PIA operates flights to various domestic destinations and serves the Gulf region and Southeast Asia. However, its safety record has been marred by incidents, including