Direct Flights from Pakistan to UK Face Delay Due to Pending TCO Approval
Lahore: The much-anticipated resumption of direct flights from Pakistan to the United Kingdom has hit a roadblock, as Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has yet to secure the required Third Country Operator (TCO) approval from British authorities, sources confirmed.
According to PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) officials, no flights can operate until the TCO clearance is formally granted. Although the UK lifted its ban on Pakistani airlines over a month ago, the CAA has failed to obtain the TCO certification in time, stalling all plans to resume operations.
The delay has also disappointed British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, who had previously expressed her eagerness to fly with PIA to Manchester. Following the removal of the UK’s aviation restrictions, she had even flown from Islamabad to Karachi on a PIA domestic flight, showing strong support for the airline’s return to UK routes.
Sources revealed that both PIA and private airline Airblue had planned to commence direct flights to the UK from August. However, the lack of TCO approval — a responsibility that lies with the Civil Aviation Authority — remains the primary hurdle.
In response to criticism, a CAA spokesperson stated that the authority’s role was limited to the removal of the UK’s ban and that further operational matters like TCO approval fall under a different jurisdiction. He added that the focus has now shifted to restoring direct flights to the United States, where a five-member safety delegation is currently assessing conditions in Pakistan.
CAA spokesperson Shahid Qadir confirmed that Director General CAA Nadir Shafi Dar is personally overseeing the situation. He assured that positive news regarding flights to the US would be announced soon.
Meanwhile, PIA has reiterated that no Pakistani airline has yet received formal TCO approval from the UK, but flight schedules will be released immediately once approval is granted. “We are fully prepared — just waiting for the official go-ahead,” a PIA spokesperson said.
