ISLAMABAD- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) recently announced the resumption of flights to Paris (CDG), a decision accompanied by a social media campaign that has sparked widespread controversy.
The airline’s advertisement, featuring an aircraft heading toward the Eiffel Tower, drew sharp criticism for its design and unintended parallels to past marketing missteps.
Photo: PIAPakistan Return to Paris Ad Goes Viral
PIA announcement about resuming flights between Islamabad (IST) and Paris (CDG) from January 10, 2025, was shared via a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).
The post featured an image of an aircraft seemingly flying toward the iconic Eiffel Tower, accompanied by the text, “Paris, we’re coming today.”
While the visual was intended to promote the return of flights, it inadvertently reminded many users of a notorious 1979 PIA advertisement that showed an aircraft casting a shadow on New York’s Twin Towers—structures tragically destroyed in the 9/11 attacks.
The backlash was swift, with social media users criticizing the advertisement’s design and messaging.
Many deemed it inappropriate and insensitive, questioning how such a campaign was approved. Comments ranged from sarcastic to outright condemnatory, with one user remarking, “Looks like a threat rather than an advertisement.”
Photo: PIA 77-200LR | Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-20… | FlickrPIA Islamabad to Paris Flight
PIA to resume flights to Paris marks an end to a 4-year ban by European Union regulators.
Flights will operate twice a week, every Friday and Sunday, offering direct connectivity between Islamabad and Paris. The ban enforced in 2020 stemmed from safety concerns after fatal accidents and a scandal involving fraudulent pilot licenses.
PIA’s struggles in recent years include operational inefficiencies, safety concerns, and financial instability.
The 2020 EU ban compounded these issues, restricting the airline’s access to key European markets.
Resuming flights to Paris represents a critical step in PIA’s strategy to regain passenger trust and establish a stronger international presence.
On the first day of resumed operations, the flight departed Islamabad at 12:40 PM local time (0740 GMT), signifying a milestone in PIA’s efforts to rebuild its reputation and expand its international routes.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Pakistan International Airlines, AP-BGJ, Boeing 777-240 ER, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72241859PIA to Resume Direct UK Flights
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will restart direct flights to the United Kingdom in February 2025, according to reports.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has reportedly initiated necessary steps, with a team from the UK’s Department for Transport (DFT) scheduled to visit Pakistan between January 15 and January 17.
Reports revealed that the CAA successfully secured an exemption from a mandatory security audit by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, which had been approved.
The DFT team has expressed confidence in the CAA’s manual report, stating that the remaining safety audit for both PIA and the CAA is now a procedural formality.
The team previously conducted an audit of PIA and the CAA, which was deemed successful. CAA Director General Nadir Shafi Dar has played a key role in facilitating the resumption of these flights, highlighting the importance of reconnecting Pakistan with the UK.
He described the reinstatement of direct flights to Europe and the UK as a New Year’s gift to the nation.
Initially, PIA plans to operate flights to Manchester, with subsequent phases expanding services to London and other UK cities.
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