Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has secured Third Country Operator (TCO) certification from UK authorities, clearing the way for the carrier to resume flights to Britain as early as next month.
In a statement shared on its official X account, the airline confirmed preparations to restart services and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the Ministry of Defence, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), and other institutions for their support.
The letter, addressed to PIA CEO AVM Mohammad Amir Hayyat, noted that EDS machines will no longer be required for screening UK-bound cargo from Islamabad and Lahore.
However, it added that British authorities retain the right to conduct sudden inspections of PIA’s procedures with little or no notice.
The UK and European aviation authorities banned PIA from operating flights in July 2020 following the “fake pilot licence scandal”.
In 2021, Pakistan was placed on the UK’s Air Safety List due to serious safety concerns. Since then, Pakistani and British aviation regulators have worked closely to address the deficiencies.
In July 2025, the UK’s Air Safety Committee announced Pakistan’s removal from the Air Safety List, clearing the way for its airlines to apply again for flight permissions. The committee noted the decision followed sustained technical cooperation with the PCAA and a thorough review of safety oversight standards.
At the time, PIA’s spokesperson said the airline was finalising preparations to resume UK flights “in the shortest possible time” and had submitted its proposed schedule.
PIA had previously estimated an annual revenue loss of around Rs40 billion ($144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered UK routes, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and holds sought-after landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport.
While several private Pakistani airlines operate domestically and on regional routes, primarily to the Middle East, PIA has historically been the only carrier to operate long-haul flights to Britain and the European Union.
The move will facilitate an estimated 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK, as well as support trade ties between the two countries.
Last year, the European Union (EU) lifted the ban on PIA and other operators from flying to different European destinations.
Following the removal of the ban, PIA operated its first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris in January.
