Business Desk 
Feb 17, 2025
An undated image of a PIA aircraft. — Depositphotos
In an attempt to broaden its footprint on the world map, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is reportedly gearing up to resume direct flights to the United States.
Citing sources, ARY News reported that this development comes as a delegation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is scheduled to visit Pakistan in mid-March for a final clearance inspection.
A five-member FAA team will visit Pakistan to assess aviation standards and inspect whether the national carrier qualifies for Category 1 status, a prerequisite for resuming direct flights to the US.
It's worth mentioning that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the resumption of direct flights has already been signed.
Moreover, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is accelerating efforts to regain its Category 1 status, which was downgraded to Category 2 following a European and United Kingdom (UK) ban on Pakistani flights.
The direct flights between Pakistan and the US were suspended in 2017. However, before the suspension, PIA operated six weekly flights to the US, including four to New York and two to Chicago.
In other news, PIA is set for the revival of direct flights to the UK by the end of February, as announced by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif.
The national airline is also planning to expand operations to 19 European countries, including Barcelona and Milan.
