Pakistan International Airlines Resumes UK Flights After Ban

Pakistan International Airlines resumes UK flights after five-year ban, with the inaugural Boeing 777 flight from Islamabad to Manchester departing on Saturday. This marks PIA’s return to Britain following suspension in June 2020 over aviation safety and pilot licensing scandals after a major Karachi air crash. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted its own ban in November 2024, and the UK removed flight restrictions in July after new safety audits and reforms.

Pakistan’s authorities overhauled pilot training, licensing, aircraft maintenance, and safety procedures to meet international standards, restoring confidence in the flag carrier’s operations. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and British diplomats praised the resumption as a milestone that will benefit the UK’s 1.6 million-strong Pakistani community, improve direct air connectivity, and help boost remittances and trade links.

PIA will initially operate twice-weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester, with plans to restart services to London and Birmingham soon. The government also signaled continued efforts to privatize the debt-ridden airline, which has struggled for years with mismanagement, regulatory issues, and heavy financial losses. The resumption of UK flights is expected to restore PIA’s credibility and open new revenue streams, while offering better travel options to the Pakistani diaspora and strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UK.

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