The government has pledged a strong turnaround for the national carrier as Asif vows to make PIA profitable as airline resumes UK flights after five-year hiatus. At an inauguration ceremony in Islamabad, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reaffirmed commitment to revitalising Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as the airline marked its return to UK routes.
After a five-year suspension, PIA on October 25 2025 resumed weekly flights from Islamabad to Manchester, signalling renewed international operations. This comes after British authorities lifted the ban on Pakistani carriers following safety audits. With Asif vows to make PIA profitable as airline resumes UK flights after five-year hiatus, the focus is now on restoring the airline’s financial health and global standing.
Asif stated that the hiatus forced PIA to incur heavy losses, including missing out on lucrative UK routes. He emphasised that renewing direct services was a necessary step toward profitability. He said: “These flights will strengthen connectivity for over 1.4 million Pakistanis in the UK while boosting remittances.”
The minister revealed that the government has streamlined pilot credentialing, grounded unsafe aircraft, and upgraded maintenance programmes. By attending to operational standards, Asif vows to make PIA profitable as airline resumes UK flights after five-year hiatus becomes more than a slogan—it is a blueprint for strategic reform.
Industry analysts welcome the development but caution that resuming UK flights alone won’t guarantee profit. They stress holistic changes in fleet modernisation, route expansion, cost control, and strategic marketing are essential. PIA recorded a pre-tax profit in H1 2025, a promising sign on its turnaround path.
The airline’s revival is also tied to its planned privatisation. The government believes that reinstated UK routes improve PIA’s value and appeal to investors. With Asif vows to make PIA profitable as airline resumes UK flights after five-year hiatus, the push for global competitiveness is clear.
Passengers, particularly those travelling between Pakistan and the UK, welcomed the move. The direct Islamabad-Manchester flights reduce travel time and eliminate layovers, adding convenience and improving accessibility.
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