ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan International Airlines’ flights to the United Kingdom will restart in October, according to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.
Dar said in a speech on the Senate floor on Sunday that Pakistan’s aviation legislation were not in line with international standards, but that adjustments had been made and only the president’s assent was required.
The minister stated that he was personally interested in the return of PIA flight operations; Dar also praised Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and the Aviation Division for their efforts to resume international flight operations.
The finance minister also went after the former aviation minister, claiming that his statement on pilot licenses cost the government Rs 71 billion.
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‘PIA lost Rs 59 billion due to the closure of UK flights,’ Dar said, adding that the national carrier lost Rs 12 billion per year due to flights to Europe and America.
Dar went on to say that the flight to the United Kingdom is profitable since there is less room for profit on the other foreign routes.
The finance minister stated that, in accordance with the agreement reached with foreign authorities, the final inspection would be conducted in August, and flights to the United Kingdom would resume in October – provided Pakistan promulgates its updated law.
Flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to the United Kingdom and other European destinations were halted due to a number of issues, including a statement by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar claiming that the licenses of the national flag carrier’s pilots were forged.
Direct flights between the United Kingdom and Pakistan via Pakistan International Airlines have been suspended since July 2020. Furthermore, direct flights via other carriers have been impacted.
Currently, PIA’s enormous network spans the world, with flights to 25 countries in Asia, Europe, and North America, as well as 24 locations within Pakistan.
Over safety concerns, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) halted Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft operations towards Europe in 2020.
After failing to comply with the proposed corrective action plans (CAPs), EASA suspended PIA’s Third Country Operator (TCO) Authorisation.
During meetings in June and September 2019, at least six findings were discussed with PIA authorities, with five of the action plans implemented and one other concerning part of a Safety Management System not implemented.
A member of the UK Parliament, Naz Shah, has undertaken efforts to restore direct flights to Pakistan, and in this regard, the MP submitted a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport of the United Kingdom, Mark Harper, requesting that direct flights between the two nations be permitted.
In her communication in May of this year, the MP noted that the flight disruption between the two nations affects approximately 2,70,000 Pakistanis living in the United Kingdom.
