PIA plans to resume flights to UK, other European destinations soon

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said on Sunday it will resume flights to Europe, including several UK destinations, soon as the EU aviation regulator has lifted the ban on Pakistan’s national flag carrier.

In June 2020, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU over concerns about the ability of the Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan was quoted as saying by the media, “PIA plans to approach the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) for UK route resumption, as EASA clearance is a prerequisite for their decision.” 

EASA and UK authorities suspended permission for PIA to operate in the region after Pakistan began investigating the validity of pilots’ licences following a deadly plane crash that killed 97 people.

Khan said the airline expects to resume flights to Europe, starting with Paris, within the next three to four weeks.

Once PIA gets approval for UK flights, Khan said London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be the most sought-after destinations.

PIA and the government, which is aiming to sell a 60 percent stake in the carrier, had urged EASA to lift the ban, even provisionally. The ban cost the airline Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in revenue.

Khan said the company has sufficient cash flow to add new routes. Decisions on leasing new aircraft will be made after the government finalizes privatization discussions, he said.

“With Europe now, and upcoming UK routes, we anticipate increased revenue potential and hence a rise in PIA’s value during the privatization process,” Khan said.