Pakistan International Airlines cleared to resume UK flights after 5-year suspension
PIA cargo approval covers flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad until 2030
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has regained permission to operate passenger flights to the United Kingdom, marking a milestone in the flag carrier’s recovery after years of restrictions.
British regulators issued the airline with Third Country Operator (TCO) certification, just a day after awarding it cargo rights, allowing services to restart as soon as next month.
PIA officials said the first passenger flights will operate from Manchester, with preparations already in the final phase. The move comes as a significant boost to Pakistan’s aviation sector, reopening direct access to one of its most important overseas markets.
TCO licence for PIA
The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the issuance of the TCO licence, restoring passenger operations after the airline’s suspension in 2020. Earlier, the Department for Transport (DfT) had granted a five-year cargo licence under the ACC3 framework, enabling PIA to transport cargo from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad until August 2030.
#PIA gets TCO Certification from #UK. Plan to resume UK operations by next month.
— PIA (@Official_PIA) September 24, 2025
CEO PIA thanks @PakPMO, @MIshaqDar50, @KhawajaMAsif, Ministry of Defence, @official_pcaa & other affiliated institutions for their patronage and unwavering support.
The DfT’s letter, addressed to PIA’s chief executive AVM Mohammad Amir Hayyat, specified that cargo from Islamabad and Lahore will no longer require screening through Explosive Detection Systems, though spot inspections can still be carried out. Officials noted that the approvals will not only provide financial relief for the airline but also help strengthen UK–Pakistan trade.
How did the ban begin?
PIA was banned from flying to Britain and the European Union in July 2020 after a plane crash in Karachi and revelations surrounding “fake pilot licences”. The following year, Pakistan was added to the UK’s Air Safety List due to shortcomings in regulatory oversight.
Intensive cooperation between the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and European regulators eventually led to Pakistan being removed from the blacklist in July 2025. The European Union followed with a lifting of restrictions, and PIA resumed flights to Paris in January this year.
The suspension had cost the airline an estimated Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually. UK routes, including London, Manchester and Birmingham, were among PIA’s most profitable, with the airline holding valuable Heathrow landing slots.
When will services resume?
PIA has indicated that the first Manchester service will launch next month, with plans to extend to other UK destinations in stages. The reopening of these routes is expected to benefit the 1.6 million Pakistanis living in Britain, many of whom have relied on connecting flights since the suspension.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s private carrier Airblue has also received a TCO licence from the UK Department for Transport. Reports indicate the airline intend to begin flights in November, starting with services from Islamabad to Leeds via Istanbul. Airblue plans to use Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, with Manchester tipped as the next destination. Discussions are ongoing for possible landing rights at Heathrow.