PIA cleared to resume direct flights to UK after 5-year ban
National carrier wins UK approval and five-year security certification as it eyes privatization and a return to key international routes
Haris Zamir
Business Editor
Experience of almost 33 years where started the journey of financial journalism from Business Recorder in 1992. From 2006 onwards attached with Television Media worked at Sun Tv, Dawn Tv, Geo Tv and Dunya Tv. During the period also worked as a stringer for Bloomberg for seven years and Dow Jones for five years. Also wrote articles for several highly acclaimed periodicals like the Newsline, Pakistan Gulf Economist and Money Matters (The News publications)
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been granted formal approval as a Third Country Operator (TCO) by the United Kingdom, paving the way for the national carrier to resume direct flights to Britain after a five-year suspension.
The UK Department for Transport informed PIA of the decision, allowing the airline to launch direct passenger and cargo operations starting next month, a PIA spokesman told Nukta. The initial phase will include flights to Manchester, followed by expansion to Birmingham and London.
PIA also received a five-year ACC3 certification from U.K. authorities, covering both security and cargo operations, a significant endorsement that reflects full compliance with international aviation safety and security standards.
“This comprehensive approval marks a major milestone in restoring PIA’s global network,” said the spokesman. “The certifications from international aviation authorities demonstrate complete confidence in PIA’s operational safety and compliance.”
The announcement comes as Pakistan prepares to privatize PIA, a key requirement under the USD 7 billion IMF bailout package.
Earlier this month, the airline reported its first pre-tax profit in over two decades.
PIA’s return to the U.K. market—historically one of its most profitable international routes—follows years of scrutiny after a damning 2020 revelation by Pakistan’s then-aviation minister that a number of PIA pilots held fraudulent licenses. That disclosure led to immediate bans by both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and U.K. authorities.
The European Union lifted its ban in November 2024 after Pakistan successfully met all required safety benchmarks. The U.K. followed suit after additional audits and compliance measures.
CEO thanks government, team for resilience
The PIA CEO expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the deputy prime minister, Ministry of Defense, Civil Aviation Authority, and all supporting institutions for their role in securing the approvals.
He also praised PIA’s internal teams for their persistence and resilience during a “challenging five-year journey” that involved multiple international audits.
“Our teams stood firm and ensured compliance under pressure. Their hard work has paid off,” the CEO said.
Road to privatization
PIA’s return to high-traffic international routes is expected to boost the carrier’s valuation ahead of its proposed privatization later this year.
The government has reportedly received interest from five domestic business groups, including Airblue, Lucky Cement, Arif Habib Limited, and Fauji Fertilizer.
Final bids are expected in the coming months.
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