Islamabad, Jan 29: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has successfully Restores eight international routes in the past six months, marking a significant step in its recovery efforts. The Aviation Ministry shared these updates with the National Assembly, highlighting the airline’s strategic revival.
PIA restores international routes, flights have resumed from Islamabad to Paris, Turbat to Sharjah and Al Ain, Gwadar to Muscat, Quetta to Jeddah, Faisalabad to Jeddah and Madinah, and Lahore to Kuwait. Notably, the Islamabad-Paris route was reopened after nearly four and a half years, utilizing Boeing 777 aircraft.
The Turbat-Sharjah route was revived after four months, while Turbat-Al Ain resumed after five months, both operated by ATR aircraft. Gwadar to Muscat flights restarted after 13 months, also serviced by ATR planes.
Meanwhile, Quetta to Jeddah resumed after more than three years, along with Faisalabad’s connections to Jeddah and Madinah, which saw Airbus A320 aircraft reintroduced after a similar gap. The Lahore-Kuwait route was also restored after seven months. 
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The ministry explained that most of these routes had been suspended due to aircraft shortages, while the Islamabad-Paris service was previously restricted by the European Union.
Looking ahead, PIA aims to expand further. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently announced that direct flights to the UK will resume by February 2025. 
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Additionally, PIA plans to introduce flights to 19 European destinations, including Barcelona and Milan, with future expansions targeting the US and Canada. These efforts are expected to boost PIA’s market value and make it a more viable candidate for privatization, further strengthening its global presence.
