Islamabad, October 25, 2025: In a major milestone, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday resumed its direct flight operations to the United Kingdom after a gap of five years, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif reaffirming the government’s commitment to transforming the national flag carrier into a profitable and competitive organisation.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony held at Islamabad International Airport to mark the resumption of PIA’s UK operations, the minister said the airline had successfully regained its credibility and international standards after years of challenges.
“We have successfully reinstated the quality and credibility of our national airline,” Khawaja Asif said, adding that the suspension of UK flights had caused significant financial losses to the country.
PIA’s flight PK-701, operated by a Boeing 777, departed from Islamabad for Manchester on Saturday morning. The non-stop flight, expected to last around five hours, will land at 5pm PST, where a special ceremony has been planned at Manchester Airport to welcome the inaugural flight, a PIA spokesperson said.
Britain had lifted its five-year ban on Pakistani airlines in July this year, paving the way for the resumption of flights after PIA received Third Country Operator (TCO) approval from British authorities last month.
The defence minister praised the efforts of Pakistan’s diplomatic staff and acknowledged the cooperation of British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, who also attended the ceremony alongside senior officials, including the defence secretary.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, expressed optimism that the Islamabad–Manchester route would pave the way for resuming flights to other British cities, including London and Birmingham.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Faisal said the issues that led to the suspension had been addressed, noting that PIA had worked to restore confidence following the 2020 Karachi plane crash that killed 97 people and exposed irregularities in pilot licensing.
Following the tragedy, Pakistani authorities launched criminal investigations into 50 pilots and several civil aviation officials accused of falsifying credentials. The Civil Aviation Authority later implemented reforms to ensure stringent vetting of pilot qualifications, satisfying UK and European safety regulators.
“We have gone through a rigorous process of setting up a new system with external examiners overseeing pilot licensing,” Faisal said. “Pakistani pilots are among the most sought-after globally, flying with leading airlines around the world.”
According to PIA estimates, the five-year suspension had resulted in an annual revenue loss of approximately Rs40 billion (USD 144 million). The airline considers UK routes — particularly London, Manchester, and Birmingham — among its most lucrative and continues to hold valuable landing slots at Heathrow Airport.
The Telegraph reported that PIA has since upgraded its safety and maintenance systems, with its flight crews re-evaluated and certified in the UK, marking a new phase of international reintegration for Pakistan’s national carrier.
