KARACHI: After a four-and-a-half-year break, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight yesterday departed for Paris to restart operations in European nations.

PIA flight PK-749 departed for Paris from Islamabad International Airport with 300 passengers onboard including the airline’s CEO. Minister for Defense and Aviation, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PIA acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khurram Mushtaq and Secretary Aviation were present at Islamabad airport to see off the passengers in a simple ceremony. After Pakistan started looking into a scandal involving the validity of pilots’ licenses following an aircraft accident that claimed 97 lives, the European Aviation Safety Agency revoked PIA’s permit to fly in the area. Earlier, PIA Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khurram Mushtaq announced plans to bring several grounded aircraft back into fleet operation from next year.