Islamabad, 25 October, 2025: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s state-run flag carrier, has resumed flight operations to the United Kingdom after a five-year suspension. The ban was originally imposed in 2020 following a fake pilot licence scandal that shook the nation’s aviation industry.
The first flight from Islamabad to Manchester departed with 284 passengers on board, marking PIA’s return to UK skies. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif attended the ceremony, expressing optimism about rebuilding global confidence in Pakistan’s aviation safety standards.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority had grounded PIA flights in 2020 after a tragic Karachi air crash killed nearly 100 passengers. Subsequent investigations revealed that many Pakistani pilots held fraudulent licences, prompting international regulatory action.