Pakistan Airlines Resumes UK Flights After Five-Year Ban

Pakistan Airlines Resumes UK Flights After Five-Year Ban

Pakistan’s state-owned airline resumed direct flights to Britain on Saturday, after UK authorities lifted a five-year suspension imposed over aviation safety concerns.

The debt-ridden flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), had been barred from flying to Britain, the European Union, and the United States in June 2020, a month after one of its Airbus A320 aircraft crashed into a Karachi neighbourhood, killing nearly 100 people. The deadly accident was attributed to human error.

Britain lifted restrictions on Pakistani carriers in July, concluding that aviation safety standards were “satisfactory and in line with international norms.”

At a ceremony at Islamabad International Airport, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called the resumption of flights to Britain a major milestone in restoring PIA’s credibility.

“After a long and difficult delay of five years, today the resumption of flights from Islamabad to Manchester is a feat achieved through our hard work and determination,” Asif said.

He added that Pakistani authorities overhauled pilot training, licensing, aircraft maintenance, and safety protocols to meet international standards during the ban.

Beyond a twice-weekly route between Islamabad and Manchester, PIA plans to operate flights to London and Birmingham.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted its own ban on PIA in November 2024, allowing the airline to resume flights to Paris in January.

The flag carrier, employing around 7,000 people, has long struggled with debt, mismanagement, and regulatory issues. The government has pledged to privatise the airline, though a previous deal collapsed after a buyer reportedly offered far below the asking price.

Founded in 1955, PIA was once a symbol of national pride and rapid growth, but its reputation has declined over decades of financial losses and safety lapses.