PIA to suspend Lahore–Paris flights from September 17

PIA pauses Lahore–Paris flights to prepare for stronger UK travel demand.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Monday that it will suspend its Lahore–Paris flights in mid-September. The airline said the decision will allow it to reallocate aircraft and crew resources in preparation for resuming services to the United Kingdom by mid-October.

PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez confirmed that the last Paris–Lahore flight will depart on September 12. The final Lahore–Paris service will operate on September 17.

Hafeez clarified that the route is not permanently closed. He explained: “The Lahore–Paris sector is only being suspended temporarily due to low seasonal demand. Resources are being shifted to the UK market, where demand is stronger.”

PIA restarted European operations in January 2025 after a four-and-a-half-year suspension. European regulators had grounded Pakistani airlines in June 2020 after a fatal crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people. Investigations cited pilot error and raised doubts about the authenticity of several pilot licenses.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban in November 2024. The United Kingdom followed on July 16, 2025, when it removed Pakistan from its “Air Safety List.” The decisions cleared the way for PIA to resume flights to Europe and Britain.

Resuming UK flights now depends on securing Third-Country Operator (TCO) authorization from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. PIA expects to obtain the certification by mid-September. The authorization is a mandatory safety clearance that allows non-UK airlines to conduct commercial flights into British airports.

Hafeez added that PIA plans to resume the Lahore–Paris route in November, aligning operations with the winter holiday season. “Passenger traffic from the Pakistani diaspora surges in December, and the Paris route will restart accordingly,” he said.

When asked about the impact of route suspension on PIA’s privatization drive, the airline’s spokesperson said the process depends on financial health rather than individual flights. The Privatization Commission declined to comment.

The government is currently pursuing the sale of a 51% to 100% stake in PIA under IMF-backed reforms. The airline, which has accumulated losses of more than $2.5 billion over the past decade, continues to weigh heavily on the national budget.

PIA officials believe shifting focus to high-demand markets like the UK will strengthen revenues and improve the carrier’s financial outlook ahead of privatization.