Islamabad:
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has received the approval of the third -country operator (TCO) to flight operations in the UK and is expected to return to British sky next month, according to a statement.
In July, the United Kingdom of Pakistan removed from his air safety list, whereby Pakistani airlines can now apply to operate aircraft to Britain, according to a statement from the British High Commission in Islamabad.
Debt-Ridet Pia was forbidden to fly to the European Union, Britain and the United States in June 2020, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s threw himself into Karachi’s model colony and killed nearly 100 people. The ban on operating to Europe was abolished last November.
After receiving the TCO certification, National Carrier announced that it would now be allowed to operate direct aircraft and carry not only passengers but also cargo.
“In the first phase, flight operations to Manchester resume, after which Birmingham and London will be included in the B network,” the statement reads, adding that the carrier was informed of the approval one day before.
“On the same day, the British Transport Department also issued Pia Security and Cargo ACC3 certificates for five years,” Pia added.
“These certificates, issued by international aviation organizations, are a manifestation of complete confidence in Pia’s air operations and security.” said that.
In a speech on X, the national carrier expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority for their help to resume operations.
The airline was forbidden to fly to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States in June 2020, a month after one of its Airbus A-320s threw himself into Karachi’s model colony and killed almost 100 people.
The ban followed the grounding of 262 pilots, whose licenses then Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan called “questionable”.
The ban on operation in Europe was abolished in November 2024.
