Efforts are also underway to reinstate services from Birmingham
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume flights to the United Kingdom after Eid-ul-Fitr, following the lifting of the European Union ban.
The announcement was made by Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Mohammad Faisal, during an Iftar dinner in London.
The dinner was attended by journalists as well as social media influencers.
In the first phase of operations, PIA will restart flights from London and Manchester to Pakistan.
Efforts are also underway to reinstate services from Birmingham in the near future.
Dr Faisal confirmed that a special ceremony will be held to mark the relaunch, with media representatives invited to witness the event.
The resumption follows the European Union’s decision to lift its long-standing ban on PIA, which was first imposed in June 2020.
The ban was implemented after a tragic plane crash in Karachi and revelations that some PIA pilots were operating with fraudulent licenses.
This led to serious safety concerns and a complete suspension of the airline’s operations in Europe.
After years of regulatory improvements and strict safety compliance measures, the EU lifted the ban at the start of 2025.
PIA’s return to European skies began on January 10, 2025, when its first flight to Paris took off after a four-and-a-half-year suspension.
The restoration of flights to the UK is expected to boost Pakistan’s aviation sector.
It will facilitate thousands of passengers who rely on PIA for direct travel between Pakistan and Britain.
The move is also part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen aviation ties with key international markets.
Meanwhile, the government has committed to selling off PIA by July 2025 as part of its agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The privatisation of the struggling airline has been in the works for some time.
Officials are now gauging investor interest before they issue an Expression of Interest later at the end of March 2025.
The previous attempt to privatise PIA failed when a real estate developer emerged as the sole bidder, offering only Rs 10 billion.
This was far below the minimum asking price of Rs 85 billion. This time, authorities are seeking a more competitive process to secure a viable buyer.
With flights resuming and privatisation plans in motion, PIA is at a critical juncture.
The coming months will determine whether the airline can regain its reputation and financial stability in the global aviation industry.
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