PIA aircraft set to roar for UK destinations after Eid
Pakistan
It comes three months after PIA resumed its Europe operations after four-year hiatus
PIA will restart flights from London and Manchester to Pakistan in the first phase
United Kingdom team conducted safety audit of Pakistan's aviation standards
National flag carrier resumed its European operations on Jan 10, 2025
LONDON (Haseeb Arslan) – The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) continues to salvage its pride as it is expected to resume direct flights to the United Kingdom after Eidul Fitr.
The announcement was made by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Dr Mohammad Faisal during an Iftar dinner in London. The dinner was attended by journalists as well as social media influencers.
PIA’s direct flights to the UK destinations will swim the skies three months after the national flag carrier resumed its Europe operations after four-year hiatus.
As for PIA’s UK travel, it will restart flights from London and Manchester to Pakistan in the first phase. Efforts are being made to restore services from Birmingham in the near future.
Dr Faisal confirmed that a special ceremony would be held to mark the re-launch, with media representatives invited to witness the event.
UK TEAM INSPECTION
Earlier, a delegation of the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority conducted safety audit of Pakistan’s aviation standards.
The UK team examined aviation safety protocols, reviewed documentation and evaluated operational procedures in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
SENATE BRIEFING
In a briefing in Senate a couple of months earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar informed the participants that PIA’s direct flights to the UK were likely to resume within two to three months.
Replying to a calling attention notice by Sherry Rehman about the grounding of PIA aircraft amid an unclear privatisation plan, the minister said all-out efforts were being made for the resumption of PIA’s flights to the UK.
RESUMPTION OF FLIGHTS TO EUROPE
The dawn of Jan 10, 2025 brought a moment of pride for the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as its ‘big bird’ sailed in the skies for the first direct flight to a European country after a hiatus of four years.
The PIA flight took off for Paris with its near optimum passenger capacity amid buzz at the New Islamabad International Airport.
The resumption of PIA’s direct flight to European destinations became possible after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted ban, which had been in place since 2020.
The PIA announced its decision to resume flights to Paris in a statement on its Facebook account: “We are thrilled to announce that EASA has officially lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines, which is a significant milestone enabling the airline to resume flights to Europe.”
The EU aviation regulator withdrew PIA’s permission to operate in the region after Pakistan began probing a scandal over the validity of pilots’ licences in the aftermath of a plane crash that killed 97 people in Karachi.
According to a Reuters report, “the PIA will approach Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT) for permission to resume routes to the UK. Once cleared by the DfT, London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be priority destinations.”
The ban caused a loss of nearly $150 million a year to PIA, officials say.
Airline spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said that after more than four years the first direct flight from the capital Islamabad to Paris would resume.
