PIA ensures UK TCO certification, repeating flights flights next month

• PIA cleans the UK’s main obstacle to business.
• The airline for the operation of cargo flights from three cities.
• Ban followed Karachi’s crash, a license scandal.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said on Wednesday that it has received third -country registration (TCO) from the UK authorities, paving the way for the repetition of work in Britain already next month.

The airline shared the update on X’s official account, confirming plans to restart UK flights and thanking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defense Minister Khawaja ASIF Institutions for their support.

Meanwhile, a letter issued by the UK Transport Department (DFT) confirmed the permanent approval of the PIA for the operation of Flights from Islamabad, Lachoris and Karachi in Britain. The names in the UK Air Force of Air Force are valid until August 2030.

The letter, addressed to PIA AVM Managing Director Mohammad Amir Hayyat, noted that EDS machines will no longer be required to display a load connected to the United Kingdom by Islamabad and Lahore.

However, he added that the British authorities reserve the right to carry out sudden inspections of PIA procedures with little or no notice.

The United Kingdom Authorities and European Air Force banned PIA from operational flights in July 2020 after the “fake pilot license scandal”.

In 2021, Pakistan was placed on the United Kingdom’s Air Security catalog due to serious security concerns. Since then, Pakistani and British Air Force regulators have worked closely to deal with shortcomings.

In July 2025, the United Kingdom Air Security Committee announced Pakistan’s removal from the Air Security list, clearing the way for airlines to be implemented again for flight rights. The Commission noted that the decision followed the continued technical cooperation with PCAA and a thorough review of security surveillance standards.

At that time, a PIA spokesman said the airline completed preparations to continue UK flights “as soon as possible” and had submitted the proposed program.

The PIA had previously estimated an annual loss of revenue of about 40 billion Rs ($ 144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered the UK routes, such as London, Manchester and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and makes sought after landing sockets at London’s Heathrow Airport.

While several private Pakistani airlines operate in the domestic market and on regional routes, mainly in the Middle East, PIA was historically the only carrier for the operation of long -distance flights to Britain and the European Union.

The move will facilitate about 1.6 million people of Pakistani living in the United Kingdom, as well as support for trade ties between the two countries.

Last year, the European Union (EU) has raised the ban on PIA and other operators in different European destinations.

After the ban was removed, PIA took advantage of its first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris this January.