Overview
- The inaugural Boeing 777 service departed Islamabad for Manchester on Oct. 25 carrying about 284 passengers, with Pakistan’s defence minister and the British high commissioner attending a send-off ceremony.
- UK access followed a sequence of approvals including Third Country Operator certification, ACC3 cargo and security clearances, and a UK Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit after the UK removed PIA from its Air Safety List in July 2025.
- EASA lifted its ban in November 2024 after safety reviews, complementing ICAO oversight and Pakistan’s overhaul of pilot licensing with re-testing and external examiners.
- PIA says the initial Islamabad–Manchester schedule will run twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with plans to add London and Birmingham, while some early reports cited a higher starting frequency.
- Officials highlighted reforms and financial restructuring, citing progress toward restoring credibility and service for Britain’s 1.6 million-strong Pakistani community, after estimated annual losses of roughly PKR 40 billion during the suspension.