PIA resumes UK flights after five-year ban

Aviation minister describes resumption as major milestone in restoring PIA's credibility

ISLAMABAD:

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

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

The deadly crash was blamed on human error.

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

At a ceremony Saturday at Islamabad International Airport, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the resumption of flights to Britain was 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 we have achieved through our hard work and determination," Asif said.

He added that in the years since the British had imposed their ban, Pakistani authorities overhauled pilot training, licensing, aircraft maintenance and safety protocols to meet international standards.

In a post on X, Asif said the restoration of flights was part of a series of measures taken by the government for the restoration of national institutions, improvement of public facilities, and the promotion of Pakistan's image at the international level.

He said the statement of the aviation minister during the PTI era "caused damage to the reputation of our beloved country, the aviation sector, and the national airline PIA, which the current government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has rectified".

"The resumption of direct flights from Islamabad to Manchester marks the beginning of a new era of connectivity between Pakistan and the UK, which will provide significant convenience to the Pakistani community residing there," Asif said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also felicitated the entire nation, especially those Pakistanis residing in the UK, on the commencement of PIA' direct flights to Manchester.

"With the grace and blessings of Allah Almighty, Pakistan's image is being restored across the world," he said, adding the suspension had damaged PIA's reputation, which has now been restored after years of dedicated efforts.

The prime minister said the resumption of direct flights would further strengthen Pakistan-UK bilateral ties, adding that the journey of improvement in every national institution, through reforms, was progressing at rapid pace.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott also expressed her "genuine joy" to wave off the first flight by a Pakistani carrier to the UK in five years. "Here's to more destinations and connections!"

Beyond a twice-weekly route between Islamabad and Manchester, PIA plans to operate flights to London and Birmingham as well. 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, which employs around 7,000 people, has long struggled with debt, mismanagement and regulatory issues. The government has pledged to privatise the airline, though a deal collapsed last year 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 eroded over decades of financial losses and safety lapses. WITH INPUT FROM AFP