ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its flight operations to the United Kingdom (UK) after five years on Saturday.
The inauguration ceremony was held at Islamabad International Airport, attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the British High Commissioner, and the Defence Secretary.
Speaking at the event, Khawaja Asif said the resumption of UK flights is a major achievement for the government. He announced that PIA flights will initially operate twice a week, on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Manchester flight will depart at 7 p.m. and reach Islamabad at 7 a.m. the next day.
He added that in the next phase, direct flights to London will also be launched to provide more convenience to passengers.
Khawaja Asif said that restoring PIA’s routes is a positive development that will help rebuild public trust in the national airline. He admitted that the European ban on PIA caused significant financial losses but said the government has worked to restore the airline’s standards and credibility.
He also appreciated the key role played by the British High Commissioner in helping restart the flight operations.
PIA’s flights to the UK and Europe were suspended in July 2020 after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked its license following the fake pilot license scandal.
In recent years, PIA has upgraded its safety standards, training systems, and operations to meet international requirements. After multiple inspections and improvements, EASA granted permission for flights to resume.
Officials said that restarting UK flights will increase the airline’s revenue and greatly benefit the Pakistani community living in Britain.
