Plans to resume flights next month
Amraiz Khan Lahore
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has officially received approval for Third Country Operator (TCO) status, paving the way for the resumption of its direct flight operations to the United Kingdom.
The national carrier will commence direct flights to the UK starting next month. In the first phase, flights will operate to Manchester, with Birmingham and London being added to the network in subsequent phases.
The UK Department for Transport formally informed PIA of the approval yesterday, granting comprehensive and multi-dimensional authorization. This enables PIA to operate direct passenger and cargo flights to and from the UK. In addition, PIA has been issued the ACC3 certificate for both security and cargo operations for a period of five years by the UK Department for Transport.
These certifications from international aviation bodies reflect full confidence in PIA’s safety and operational standards. PIA’s CEO extended special thanks to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, Civil Aviation Authority, and all supporting institutions for their continued guidance and support. He also expressed gratitude to the PIA team for their resilience and dedication over the past five years, during which they successfully navigated multiple audits to achieve this milestone.
