Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officially secured authorization from the UK Department for Transport to operate as a Third Country Operator (TCO) in September 2025. Following this, PIA officially resumed direct, non-stop flights to the UK, with operations restarting in October 2025 and full service (e.g., Islamabad to London) fully operational by March 29, 2026. 

Key Details regarding the resumption:

• Authorization: The UK granted approval after assessing safety protocols, providing a five-year ACC3 certification.
• Initial Resumption: Initial flights were planned for late 2025, starting with routes to Manchester before expanding to London and Birmingham.
• Full Service Resumption: Scheduled non-stop flights to London Heathrow (from Islamabad and Lahore) formally resumed on March 29–30, 2026, using Boeing 777 aircraft.
• Background: The flights resumed after a suspension that lasted over five years (starting in July 2020).

More Details about PIA

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is currently undergoing a historic transformation. As of April 2026, the airline is transitioning to private management following a successful bidding process.

1. Privatization & New Ownership

• The Deal: A consortium led by Arif Habib (including Fatima Fertilizer and Lake City Holdings) has finalized the acquisition of a 75% stake in PIA for Rs 135 billion.

• Takeover: Full operational control is being handed over to the new owners this month (April 2026).

• Investment Plan: The new management has committed to an immediate capital injection of Rs 125 billion to modernize the fleet, aiming to increase the number of active aircraft from 18 to 38.

• Employee Protection: The agreement includes a guarantee that there will be no employee layoffs for the first 12 months of private operation.

2. Current Flight Operations (April 2026)

• Hajj 2026: PIA has finalized its special Hajj flight schedule, which is set to begin on April 18, 2026. The airline will operate over 200 flights to transport approximately 180,000 pilgrims, including a new direct route from Lahore.

• Return to Europe/UK: After a six-year hiatus, PIA has officially resumed direct flights to London and is working toward restoring full European routes by meeting international safety standards.

• Disruptions: As of April 6, 2026, there have been significant flight cancellations (over 50 flights today alone) affecting Middle East routes. These disruptions are largely due to ongoing regional tensions and airspace constraints in the Gulf.

3. Strategic Goals

The new era of PIA focuses on:

• Reliability: Drastically reducing cancellations and improving on-time performance.

• Service Quality: Overhauling cabin interiors and passenger services to restore its legacy as a premier international carrier.

• Religious Tourism: Expanding services for Hajj and Umrah, which the consortium views as a key revenue driver.