PIA Resumes UK Operations After Five Years as First Flight Lands in Manchester

ISLAMABAD:After a five-year suspension, the **Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)** has successfully resumed its flight operations to the United Kingdom. The first flight from **Islamabad to Manchester** landed on Sunday evening, marking a major milestone for the national carrier.

According to a PIA spokesperson, the **Boeing 777 aircraft** completed the **five-hour direct flight** from Islamabad to Manchester, arriving at **5:00 PM local time**. A large number of Pakistanis gathered at Manchester Airport to welcome the flight, chanting **“Pakistan Zindabad”** in celebration.

The day before the flight, **Federal Minister for Aviation and Defence Khawaja Asif** formally inaugurated PIA’s restored UK flight operations at a ceremony attended by **British High Commissioner Jane Marriott**.

PIA flights to the UK and Europe had been **suspended in 2020** after then–Aviation Minister **Ghulam Sarwar Khan** revealed in parliament that several Pakistani pilots held **fake licenses**, prompting the **European Union and the UK** to impose a safety ban on the airline.

The resumption of flights marks a **significant step toward rebuilding PIA’s international credibility** and restoring travel links between Pakistan and the UK.