Lahore – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed direct flights from Lahore to Paris on Wednesday, ending a five-year gap. The airline had earlier announced the return of this international route in May.
The first flight, PK-733, departed from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport at 12 noon, carrying 276 passengers. The weekly flight will use a Boeing 777 aircraft, recently upgraded to improve passenger comfort, according to PIA.
A small ceremony was held at the airport to celebrate the occasion, with a cake-cutting event. PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat, COO Khurram Mushtaq, French Embassy Head of Mission Franck Aubrée, and other senior aviation officials were present to see off the passengers.
PIA is already operating two weekly flights from Islamabad to Paris. The Lahore-Paris route is expected to provide more convenience to passengers and increase foreign exchange earnings.
The resumption follows the European Union’s decision to lift restrictions on PIA in November 2024. The airline had been banned in 2020 after a tragic plane crash in Karachi and concerns over pilot license verification.
FFC Submits Interest in Buying Stake in PIA
In a related development, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC), one of Pakistan’s top fertilizer producers, has officially expressed interest in acquiring shares in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL), which is currently in the process of privatization.
— ALSO READ —
Railway increases train ticket prices across Pakistan
In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), FFC stated that its Board of Directors approved submitting an Expression of Interest (EoI) and prequalification documents to the Privatization Commission. The approval was given during the company’s 234th board meeting held on June 13, 2025.
FFC, a public limited company, is involved in the production and marketing of fertilizers and chemicals, along with investments in various other sectors such as cement, energy, and banking.
PIA, a public sector airline, is the national flag carrier of Pakistan. The government holds nearly 96% of its shares through PIA Holding Company Limited. PIA currently operates 268 flights per week to 30 destinations, serving about 4 million passengers annually.
The government extended the deadline to submit bids for PIA until June 19, 2025. It aims to sell a 51% to 100% stake in the airline to cut losses from state-owned enterprises, as part of the $7 billion IMF program.
Last year, the privatization attempt failed after only one bid was received, which was significantly below the $300 million asking price.