Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 04, 2025
Shortly after coming to a standstill, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the UK have obtained the Foreign Operating Permit (FOP) from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The POF paves the way for the Pakistani airline to restart commercial flights between the two nations, clearing all hurdles.
The first PIA flight to the UK is scheduled to Manchester, while the national flag carrier is also planning to expand services to Birmingham and London shortly, as noted by TechJuice.
The development marks good news for the 1.7 million Pakistanis living in the UK, allowing them more direct and convenient travel options to Pakistan.
Prior to the current permit, PIA secured Third Country Operator (TCO) approval and has also been allowed to operate cargo flights from Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi to the UK under the ACC3 aviation security framework, which will expire in August 2030.
The development comes on the heels of the UK’s removal of Pakistan from its Air Safety List in July 2025, wherein the country acknowledged improvements made by PIA in terms of safety monitoring standards.
The renewal of Pakistani flights to the UK pertains to the PIA’s ambitions to restore international operations, as the airline is preparing to apply for licences to operate flights to New York.
