Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will suspend its Lahore–Paris flights in mid-September, a spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
The temporary move is aimed at reallocating resources in preparation for the resumption of services to the United Kingdom (UK), expected by mid-October.
The airline had restarted flights to Europe in January after a four-and-a-half-year ban was lifted by European regulators. It launched twice-weekly flights between Lahore and Paris on June 18.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said the last Paris–Lahore flight will operate on September 12, followed by the final Lahore–Paris flight on September 17.
“The route is not being permanently shut down but temporarily suspended due to low seasonal demand,” Hafeez explained. “Operations are being shifted to the UK sector, where demand is stronger.”
PIA was banned in June 2020 from flying to the EU, UK, and US after a fatal crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people. Investigations cited human error and raised concerns over the authenticity of a significant number of pilot licenses.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban in November 2024, and the UK removed Pakistan from its “Air Safety List” on July 16, 2025—clearing the path for Pakistani airlines to seek new permits.
Resuming UK flights now hinges on receiving Third-Country Operator (TCO) authorization from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which PIA expects to secure by mid-September.
A TCO authorization is a safety certification allowing non-UK airlines to operate commercial flights to or within the UK.
Route to Resume in Peak Travel Season
Hafeez stated that PIA aims to resume the Lahore–Paris route in November, aligning with the winter holiday peak when diaspora travel typically surges.
When contacted for comment on the route suspension’s impact on PIA’s ongoing privatization, Pakistan’s Privatization Commission did not respond. Hafeez, however, said the privatization process is “driven more by financial performance and revenue forecasts than individual routes.”
Pakistan is currently attempting to sell a 51% to 100% stake in PIA, part of broader reforms under a $7 billion IMF program. The airline, which has accumulated over $2.5 billion in losses in the past decade, has long been a financial burden on the national budget.
In July, four investor groups were prequalified to bid for PIA. These include:
- A consortium of Lucky Cement, Hub Power Holdings, Kohat Cement, and Metro Ventures
- A group led by Arif Habib Corp., with Fatima Fertilizer, The City School, and Lake City Holdings
- Fauji Fertilizer Company, a military-backed conglomerate
- Private airline Airblue