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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is gearing up to resume its flight operations to the United Kingdom, with the UK Department for Transport’s Safety Review Board set to hold a key meeting on March 15 to assess the matter.
The PIA officials are hopeful that Pakistani airlines will receive operational approval in this meeting.
According to sources, PIA has laid out a phased plan for the resumption of UK flights. In phase 1, the airline intends to launch direct flights from Islamabad to Manchester from March 28. In phase 2, flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London and Birmingham will commence at a later stage.
In anticipation of a positive decision from UK authorities, PIA has already initiated the groundwork by issuing tenders for ground handling, catering services, and crew accommodations.
A PIA spokesperson stated that the airline is awaiting the final decision from the UK Department for Transport.
If approval is granted, PIA will immediately commence flight operations.
The UK market is a crucial segment of PIA’s network, and the airline is committed to providing high-quality international services to passengers.
It is worth mentioning that before the ban on flights to the UK and Europe, PIA’s European and British routes accounted for 37% of its total revenue.
The airline plans to deploy its Boeing 777 aircraft for UK operations.
In the first phase, PIA will operate three weekly flights between Pakistan and the UK. The airline aims to gradually expand the frequency as demand increases, the spokesperson added.
