Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is preparing to restart its flights to the United Kingdom after Eidul Fitr, according to Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Muhammad Faisal. Speaking at an iftar dinner in London, attended by journalists, social media influencers, and prominent guests, Dr. Faisal revealed that PIA will initially resume operations from London and Manchester to Pakistan. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to reintroduce flights from Birmingham in the near future.
Dr. Faisal highlighted that the relaunch of flights will be celebrated with a formal opening ceremony, to which media representatives will be invited. He clarified that the decision to resume services is not linked to any operational issues concerning aircraft landings. This move is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to strengthen aviation ties with the UK, following a lengthy suspension of direct flights.
PIA resumed its European operations on January 10, 2025, with its first flight to Paris, marking the end of a four-and-a-half-year ban imposed by the European Union. The EU had halted PIA’s operations in June 2020 after a devastating plane crash in Karachi. The situation worsened when the then-Aviation Minister revealed in Parliament that numerous pilots had been hired using fake licenses, raising significant safety concerns.
After implementing extensive regulatory reforms and meeting stringent safety standards, the EU lifted the ban, allowing PIA to restart its services to European destinations.
In related developments, the Pakistani government has assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of its commitment to privatize Pakistan International Airlines by July 2025. However, the future of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York remains uncertain after the US decided to terminate its $228 million lease agreement prematurely.
The Privatisation Ministry has briefed the IMF on the progress of PIA’s privatization, setting a July 2025 deadline to sell the financially struggling airline. Earlier attempts to privatize PIA faced significant challenges, with a weak scrutiny process resulting in a real estate developer being the sole bidder. The bidder offered Rs10 billion, far below the minimum asking price of Rs85 billion.
Sources indicate that the government is currently assessing market sentiment before issuing an Expression of Interest to attract potential investors by the end of the month.
