By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines resumed direct flights to the UK after a nearly five-year suspension, marking a milestone in the government’s push to rehabilitate the struggling national carrier and restore the country’s aviation reputation amid broader economic reforms.
The inaugural flight from Islamabad to Manchester took off on Saturday, following approval last month from Britain’s Department for Transport, which deemed Pakistan’s security arrangements “satisfactory and in line with international standards.” The service starts with Manchester routes and is set to expand to Birmingham and London in subsequent phases.
“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,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said at a ceremony at Islamabad International Airport to mark the occasion. “This success is not a coincidence, but a living testament of the government’s priorities, strong leadership, and efforts.”
The resumption comes as Pakistan grapples with revitalising PIA, which has racked up more than $2.5 billion in losses over the past decade. The government is actively pursuing privatisation, having received expressions of interest in June from five parties, including business groups and a military-owned firm.
Asif emphasised the administration’s commitment to transforming the airline into a profitable entity that supports the economy rather than burdening it. The country’s image “suffered immensely” from international bans on PIA, Asif said, adding that the government treated the issue as a “national challenge.” Without delay, it empowered aviation authorities with resources and overhauled key areas to meet global standards.
“To meet the standards of the world’s strictest aviation bodies, we completely restructured pilot training, the licensing system, aircraft maintenance, and safety protocols,” he said. As a result, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency restored its confidence in PIA, Asif noted, calling it “a matter of great pride.”
The flights to Manchester represent an “excellent start,” but the government aims higher, Asif said. “We plan that after Manchester, flights to London and Birmingham will also be started.”
The ban stemmed from safety concerns raised after a PIA flight from Lahore to Karachi crashed near Jinnah International Airport in June 2020, killing about 100 people. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency barred PIA from EU airspace shortly after, prompted by then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s parliamentary statement labeling pilots’ licenses as “dubious.”
EASA lifted the restriction on Nov. 28 last year after more than four years. In July 2025, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, paving the way for airlines to seek operating permissions in Britain.
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