PIA to restart UK flights after ban lifted

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plans to resume its flights to the United Kingdom following the UK lifting a long-term ban on Pakistani carriers. 

This will be the national airline's official return to one of its most prominent international routes after about four years.

The initial flights will go from Islamabad directly to three key cities in the UK: Manchester, London, and Birmingham. 

PIA is expected to start with three flights a week, and the first schedule will be confirmed after final approval. 

PIA is celebrating this latest development as a "milestone for aviation safety", announcing that the decision confirms the airline has met international safety requirements for air travel. 

Officials have said that the UK Air Safety Committee has signed off on operations following strict collaboration with aviation authorities in Pakistan and British authorities.

"As a result of consistent hard work and genuine safety enhancement, we’re now ready to reunite families and businesses," said a PIA spokesperson.

PIA also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott for assistance with the efforts to restore these flight operations.