Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 24, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GooglePakistan International Airlines will resume UK flights next month, ending a five-year ban. This move aligns with its privatization plans and recent financial recovery.
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan International Airlines said on Wednesday it would resume direct flights next month on its most profitable route to Britain, putting an end to a five-year ban before the planned privatisation of the national carrier this year.
Britain cleared the airline to operate passenger and cargo flights, PIA said in a statement, adding that it would start operations from Manchester, before extending them to Birmingham and London.
The privatisation of the airline is a key condition of Pakistan's $7-billion bailout by the International Monetary Fund.
Britain and the European Union suspended PIA's operation in the region in 2020 over safety concerns, after Pakistan's then aviation minister said some of its pilots had fake licences.
The EU lifted its ban in November after Pakistan worked to meet benchmarks set by international aviation regulators.
This month, PIA reported its first pre-tax profit in two decades.
Islamabad has drawn interest in the national carrier from five domestic business groups, including Airblue, Lucky Cement (LUKC.PSX), investment firm Arif Habib (AHL.PSX), and military-backed Fauji Fertilizer (FAUF.PSX).
Final bids are expected later this year.
(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that aims to promote global economic stability and growth by providing financial assistance and advice to member countries.
Safety concerns in aviation refer to issues that may compromise the safety of passengers and crew, including mechanical failures, pilot qualifications, and adherence to regulatory standards.
A bailout is a financial rescue operation where funds are provided to a failing business or economy to prevent its collapse and stabilize the financial system.
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