PIA resumes direct UK flights after safety upgrades and UK lifted ban, marking first profit in 20 years.

Pakistan International Airlines will resume direct flights to the UK next month, starting with Manchester and later expanding to Birmingham and London, after the UK lifted its ban following safety improvements. The airline received a five-year Third Country Operator certification, reflecting compliance with international aviation standards. This follows the EU’s earlier removal of Pakistan from its air safety blacklist in November 2024. The move supports Pakistan’s broader efforts to secure a $7-billion IMF bailout and marks PIA’s first pre-tax profit in two decades. The airline’s planned privatisation has attracted interest from five domestic business groups, with final bids expected later this year.