ISLAMABAD — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume direct flights to various European destinations beginning early next month, as officials reported on Thursday. This announcement comes shortly after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency removed the ban that had restricted PIA’s operations due to safety compliance issues.

The ban against PIA, which had been in effect since 2020, was prompted by a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of 97 lives when a PIA aircraft crashed in Karachi, located in the southern Sindh province. The suspension significantly impacted PIA’s financial health, leading to an annual revenue loss of nearly $150 million, according to airline officials.

According to airline spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez, the first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris is anticipated to restart in early January after an absence of over four years. He conveyed that the European safety agency has expressed “complete satisfaction” with PIA’s adherence to safety regulations and that efforts are in progress to resume flights to additional European cities.

The EU aviation body had raised concerns regarding the authenticity of Pakistani pilot licenses when it initially enforced the ban in 2020. They highlighted issues regarding Pakistan’s ability to certify and regulate its aviation operators and aircraft in line with global safety standards.

The devastating crash of an Airbus A320 from Lahore occurred on May 22, 2020, as the aircraft attempted to land at Karachi airport, ultimately crashing in a residential area. Of the 99 people on board, only two survived.

During the investigation, it was revealed that nearly a third of Pakistani pilots had allegedly falsified information on their exams, leading to PIA grounding 150 pilots in response. A subsequent inquiry concluded that pilot error had been the primary cause of the accident.

Following the announcement of the resumption of flights, travel agents reported a surge in inquiries from customers eager to book tickets. Hafeez mentioned that PIA is preparing to release the flight schedule for other European routes shortly.

He emphasized the convenience of international travel, stating, “If you have your breakfast in Pakistan, you will be having your lunch in Paris.”