Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Wednesday that it has obtained Third Country Operator (TCO) approval for flight operations in the United Kingdom and is expected to resume services to British destinations next month, according to an official statement.
In July, the UK removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, making it possible for Pakistani airlines to apply for flight operations in Britain. This decision followed a UK Department for Transport aviation security inspection at Islamabad International Airport, where Pakistan’s security measures were declared satisfactory and aligned with international standards.
With the TCO certification in place, the national carrier confirmed it can now operate direct flights and transport both passengers and cargo.
“In the first phase, flights to Manchester will resume, followed by operations to Birmingham and London,” the airline said, noting that approval was granted a day earlier.
On the same day, the British Department of Transport also issued PIA Security and Cargo ACC3 certificates valid for five years. According to the airline, these internationally recognised certifications demonstrate full confidence in PIA’s air operations and safety standards.
In a post on X, the national carrier expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Defence Ministry, and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) for their role in helping secure the approval and paving the way for the resumption of UK flight operations.
