ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed direct flights to the United Kingdom on Saturday after more than five years, following the lifting of a ban imposed over a fake pilot licence scandal that grounded the airline’s European operations.
The European Union and United Kingdom had banned PIA flights in June 2020 after a fatal Airbus A320 crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people. The suspension followed then, aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan’s revelation to parliament that dozens of Pakistani pilots held “dubious” licences.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban in November 2024 after comprehensive safety audits and reforms by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The United Kingdom followed suit in July 2025, after confirming improved oversight and the recertification of Pakistani pilots to international standards.
Saturday’s inaugural Boeing 777 flight from Islamabad to Manchester marked the airline’s return to European skies after years of technical upgrades, international inspections, and reforms that restored confidence in Pakistan’s aviation system.
A ceremony marking the occasion was held at Islamabad International Airport and attended by Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, Defence Secretary Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Muhammad Ali, CAA Director General Nadir Shafi Dar, and other senior officials.
“The flight to Manchester is a remarkable beginning, but we are firmly determined to start flights to London and Birmingham next,” Asif said in a televised address. He added that there are over 1.4 million Pakistanis living in Britain and Europe, and “the remittances they send are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy.”
“Thus, providing them with direct flights is both a moral and national duty. These services will save them time, offer reasonable fares, and provide direct air links to their homeland,” he said.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott welcomed the milestone on X, writing: “Mubarak! PIA is set to make its first flight from Islamabad to Manchester on 25 October — the first Pakistani carrier to return to UK skies.”
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Mohammad Faisal, also hailed the relaunch as a major step forward in economic and cultural ties between the two countries. “This milestone will bring major economic benefits; generating substantial revenue, boosting trade and tourism, and expanding the movement of people and goods,” he said at a recent event in London.
In an official statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Aviation described the resumption as “a historic milestone for Pakistan’s aviation sector and its bilateral relations with the United Kingdom.”
Addressing the ceremony, Khawaja Asif said the initiative was part of the government’s broader efforts to revive national institutions, improve public facilities, and enhance Pakistan’s international image. “The launch of the direct flight between Islamabad and Manchester marks a new era of connectivity between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, offering significant convenience to the Pakistani community residing there,” he said.
He credited the Civil Aviation Authority, the Aviation Division, and PIA management for their “dedicated efforts and professional excellence” in regaining the confidence of international regulators.
The inaugural Islamabad–Manchester flight, operated by a Boeing 777, will initially run twice weekly, with expansion to London and Birmingham planned in the next phase. Officials said the move represents a “turning point” for Pakistan’s aviation industry and is expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and cultural links between the two countries.
