According to Pakistan's High Commissioner, UK restrictions on Pakistani international airlines were lifted five years later.
The airline was banned from operating its own services in the UK in mid-2020 following the decision by the European Union Air Safety Agency to suspend approval of the PIA's third country operator.
The restrictions came after a fatal accident in Karachi, including the PIA Airbus A320, and the revelation that many pilot licenses issued by Pakistani regulators had been fraudulently acquired.
EASA ultimately ended its suspension last November, deeming Pakistan's safety surveillance of air transport systems had been significantly improved.
Pakistan's British High Commissioner Jane Marriott said on July 16 that the UK Air Safety Commission “removed restrictions on Pakistan's career” following a “sustainable, independent, technically driven process.”
“It will take some time for flights to resume, but this is an important step and evidence of improved air safety (from the PIA),” she adds.
Flightglobal has called for confirmation of the decision from the UK's Civil Aviation Authority. The department has not responded yet.
However, the PIA shows it plans to restore flights to Manchester this August.
