PIA to resume flights with Britain after five years

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it will restart direct flights to the United Kingdom next month, ending a five-year suspension just months before the planned privatisation of the national flag carrier.

The airline said that Britain has authorised it to operate both passenger and cargo services. Initial flights will operate from Manchester, with routes to Birmingham and London expected to follow.

The move comes as the government prepares to privatise PIA, a key requirement of Pakistan’s $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.

PIA flights to the UK and the European Union were suspended in 2020 after the then-aviation minister disclosed that some pilots had been flying with fake licenses, sparking serious safety concerns.

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The European Union lifted its restrictions in November after Pakistan addressed regulatory benchmarks.

The airline recently reported its first pre-tax profit in 20 years, raising hopes of a turnaround. Interest in the carrier has been expressed by at least five domestic groups, including Airblue, Lucky Cement, investment company Arif Habib, and Fauji Fertilizer.

Final bids for the privatisation are expected later this year.