Nearly four years after services were suspended over regulatory and safety concerns, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially announced the resumption of direct flights to the United Kingdom.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the first flight will operate from Islamabad to Manchester on October 25, with a return service on the same route. Two weekly flights are scheduled initially.
The Pakistan High Commission in London stated that the UK Civil Aviation Authority has granted the Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit, the final approval required to restart regular passenger operations.
PIA has also secured Third Country Operator approval, a key step that allows the airline to resume services on UK routes. Flights will later expand to Birmingham and London.
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This development follows a series of regulatory and safety reviews. In July, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, allowing Pakistani airlines to once again apply for flight operations.
Additionally, the UK Department for Transport carried out a security inspection at Islamabad International Airport. It declared Pakistan’s aviation security measures satisfactory and aligned with international aviation standards.
The airline hopes the revival of direct services will ease travel for Pakistani passengers living in Britain and strengthen business, cultural, and family ties between the two countries.
With flight operations resuming, PIA is also working on restoring passenger confidence by upgrading service quality and ensuring compliance with all international safety and security requirements.
