Pakistan Airlines advert shows plane flying into Eiffel Tower | TelegraphSetback for state-owned carrier on same day flying ban to Europe lifted 

AI SUMMARY:

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sparked backlash with a controversial advert celebrating its return to European skies. The image, which depicts a plane flying toward the Eiffel Tower, has been criticized as "tone deaf" and insensitive, with commentators drawing comparisons to 9/11. The timing is particularly unfortunate given Pakistan’s history of accusations related to terrorism and PIA’s own troubled safety record.

Critics, including PR expert Omar Quraishi, lambasted the airline for failing to foresee how the advert might be perceived. The criticism comes as PIA attempts to rebuild its reputation after a four-year ban in the EU, US, and UK, imposed following a fatal crash in 2020 and revelations that a third of its pilots held fake licenses.

PIA’s history of PR missteps, including a 1979 ad eerily reminiscent of 9/11 and reports of safety oversights, continues to haunt the airline. While Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the EU’s lifting of the ban as a positive step, this latest controversy has overshadowed the milestone, raising fresh questions about the airline’s judgment and its ability to regain international trust.