KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is preparing to resume its flights to the United Kingdom. According to Nadir Shafi Dar, Director General of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), a delegation from the UK's Department for Transport (DfT) will visit Pakistan next month. An online meeting is also planned for the third week of December, followed by an official visit to the UK in January 2024.
The DG expressed optimism that PIA flights to the UK could resume as early as March, pending evaluations similar to those conducted by the European Union (EU). A positive assessment by the EU is expected to facilitate PIA’s operations to the UK.
A PIA spokesperson highlighted that the airline previously operated 21 weekly flights to the UK, with services to London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
The resumption of flights to the UK and Europe is anticipated to significantly boost PIA’s revenue.
On December 7, PIA announced plans to resume flights to Europe, beginning with Paris in January, after the EU aviation regulator lifted the ban on the national carrier. PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU had been suspended in June 2020 due to concerns over compliance with international aviation standards, following a scandal related to pilot licenses.
"We have received approval for the first flight’s schedule," said PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan, adding that bookings for the Boeing 777 flight to Paris would open on December 9, with the first flight scheduled for January 10.
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