In a significant milestone, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reaffirmed the government’s resolve to transform Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) into a profitable and competitive carrier as the national airline resumed direct flights to the United Kingdom (UK) after a gap of five years. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Islamabad International Airport, the defence minister hailed the occasion as “a step toward restoring PIA’s global credibility.” PIA’s Boeing 777 flight PK-701 departed from Islamabad to Manchester on Saturday morning. According to a PIA spokesperson, a special reception will also be held at Manchester Airport to welcome the inaugural flight. Britain had lifted its five-year ban on Pakistani airlines in July this year, allowing them to apply for flight operations to the UK. The resumption followed PIA’s receipt of Third Country Operator (TCO) approval from British aviation authorities last month. Asif acknowledged that the suspension of UK operations had caused massive financial losses but said the airline had “regained its lost reputation and operational standards.” He lauded Pakistan’s diplomatic staff and the British High Commission for their efforts in restoring confidence in the airline. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Defence Secretary, and other senior officials attended the ceremony. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, expressed optimism that the Islamabad-Manchester flight could pave the way for routes to other British cities. In an interview with The Telegraph, Faisal said the issues that led to the suspension had been addressed, adding that PIA had worked hard to rebuild trust following the 2020 Karachi plane crash that killed 97 people and exposed the use of fake licences among some pilots. The tragedy led to criminal investigations into dozens of pilots and civil aviation officials accused of helping falsify credentials to obtain flying licences. PIA had previously estimated an annual revenue loss of around Rs40 billion (approximately $144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered UK routes, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and holds sought-after landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport that could become active again. Faisal told The Telegraph that mechanisms had been put in place to ensure that pilot qualifications were closely vetted to the satisfaction of UK and European safety regulators. “We have gone through a rigorous process of setting up a new system, which involves some external examiners and people who oversee the pilot licensing,” the official said, talking to the British newspaper. “Pakistani pilots are known all over the world, and they are flying planes in all the reputable airlines. They are very sought after. So we don’t have a pilot problem as such in Pakistan.”The national airline has upgraded its safety and maintenance systems, having its flight crews re-evaluated and certified in the UK.
PIA returns to UK skies after five years; Khawaja Asif vows to restore profitability
