Islamabad:
On Wednesday, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced that it had received the approval of the third-party operator (TCO) for the flight operations in the United Kingdom and is expected to return to the British sky next month, according to a statement.
In July, the United Kingdom withdrew Pakistan from its air security list, allowing Pakistani airlines to now apply to flights to the United Kingdom, according to a press release from the British High Commissioner in Islamabad.
The debt PIA was forbidden to fly to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States in June 2020, one month after one of its Airbus A-320 plunged into the model colony of Karachi, killing nearly 100 people. The ban on operating in Europe was lifted in November from last year.
Having received TCO certification, the national carrier has announced that it would now be authorized to operate direct flights and transport not only passengers but also freight.
“In the first phase, the flight operations in Manchester will resume, after which Birmingham and London will be included in network B,” said the press release, adding that the carrier was informed of approval one day before.
“On the same day, the British Ministry of Transport also issued PIA Security and Cargo ACC3 certificates for five years,” added Pia.
“These certificates, issued by international aeronautical organizations, are a manifestation of total confidence in air operations and PIA security.” he said.
In a position on X, the national carrier expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense and the Aviation Aviation Authority for their aid for the resumption of operations.
The carrier was forbidden to fly to the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States in June 2020, one month after one of its A-320 Airbus plunged into the model colony of Karachi, killing nearly 100 people.
The prohibition followed the land of 262 pilots including the Minister of Aviation for Licenses, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, described as “doubtful”.
The ban on operating in Europe was lifted in November 2024.
