PIA Resumes UK Flights After Five Years, Marking a New Chapter in Pakistan-UK Ties

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday restored its flight operations to the United Kingdom after a long gap of five years and three months, ARY News reported. The first PIA flight took off for Manchester, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s aviation history.

Initially, PIA will operate two weekly flights — one on Tuesday and one on Saturday. Before the departure, a ceremony was held at Islamabad Airport, attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. To commemorate the occasion, a large portrait of a Manchester landmark was displayed at the terminal.

PIA’s flights to the UK were suspended in July 2020 after the then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s remarks regarding pilot license verification, which led to international restrictions on the airline.

Welcoming the development, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott termed the resumption a “historic moment,” emphasizing that the return of direct flights will strengthen people-to-people ties and enhance trade, tourism, and family connections between the two countries.

UK authorities also lauded PIA’s management for its efforts to meet international aviation standards.

Meanwhile, PIA’s CEO inspected preparations for the UK operations at Karachi’s Asfahani Hangar, reviewing a Boeing 777 aircraft to ensure full compliance with safety and service protocols.

The United Kingdom remains Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth £4.7 billion annually. The revival of direct flights is expected to further boost this economic partnership, enabling easier travel for the Pakistani diaspora in Britain.