PIA Halts Lahore-Paris Route to Prioritize UK Flight CAA Approval
PIA’s Suspension of Flights to Paris
Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has decided to halt its flights between Lahore Allama Iqbal Airport (LHE) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), just two months after initiating the service.
This move follows a lackluster passenger turnout since the weekly flights commenced on June 18, 2025. The airline has confirmed that the last flight from Lahore to Paris will take place on September 17, 2025.
Background on PIA’s Flights to France
Last year, PIA declared that it would be resuming flights to France after a four-year hiatus, a result of a ban from European Union airspace being lifted. In addition to the Lahore-Paris route, PIA also reintroduced flights between Islamabad International Airport (ISB) and CDG in January 2025. This service will proceed as planned.
Future Prospects for PIA
The airline is focusing its efforts on securing approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate flights in UK airspace as an authorized third country operator. A PIA representative stated that two aircraft, including one designated for the Lahore-Paris route, are currently undergoing renovations to meet CAA requirements.
Plans for UK Flights
Initially, the airline aims to resume flights to Manchester and seeks authorization from the CAA to “undertake commercial flights to, from or within the UK and associated areas” by the end of September 2025.
In July 2025, the UK lifted a five-year ban on PIA that was imposed following a safety scandal involving fraudulent pilot licenses. An independent review conducted by the Department for Transport confirmed that Pakistan now satisfies international safety standards.
Despite the lifting of the ban, PIA still needs operational approval from the CAA before it can restart flights.
What do you think about PIA’s recent decisions and future plans for international flights?
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