Airlines

Virgin Atlantic reveals Queen of the Skies aircraft

In honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Virgin Atlantic has given its newest aircraft the name Queen of the Skies.

The Life of Queen Elizabeth Include Several Aviation Milestones(Opens in a new browser tab)

The second Airbus A330neo operated by Virgin Atlantic to have the designation Queen of the Skies has the registration G-VEII. Back in 2004, her late majesty unveiled an Airbus A340-600 with the same name at a ceremony in Toulouse.

Virgin Atlantic has a long history of naming its aircraft after inspirational women, including Diana in tribute to Princess Diana. Virgin Atlantic’s current fleet includes Lade Emmeline (G-VLIB) which pays tribute to the founder of the Suffragette movement and women’s rights activist Emmeline Pankhurst. Fearless Lady (G-VEVE) celebrates the life of Eve Branson, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson’s late mother. Eve led an incredible life, enlisting in the WRENS during World War II, taking gliding lessons disguised as a boy, and working as a pioneering hostess on the treacherous British South American Airways routes.

Queen of the Skies is the fourth Airbus A330neo to join Virgin Atlantic’s fleet. The other three are Billie Holiday (G-VJAZ), Space Oddity (G-VTOM) and Eliza Doolittle (G-VLDY). Virgin Atlantic is committed to flying the cleanest, greenest fleet in the sky and it has ordered 12 more Airbus A330neos to join its fleet.

Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.