Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is making significant progress toward resuming direct flights to the United Kingdom, as the British Civil Aviation Authority has begun auditing the airline, sources said.
A British team recently met with PIA officials at the airline’s head office in Karachi and started reviewing flight safety and operational procedures. The team is assessing PIA’s modern flight management system and its newly implemented Safety Management System, officials briefed them.
PIA flights were banned in the UK and Europe in 2020 following the revelation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) fake pilot license scandal. While PIA has already resumed flights to certain European countries, efforts are now focused on regaining approval for UK operations.
A team from the British Civil Aviation Authority and the UK Department of Transport arrived in Pakistan a few days ago to conduct a safety audit of both the PIA and Pakistan’s civil aviation sector. The audit is a key step toward lifting the UK flight ban and restoring direct air travel between the two countries.
British High Commission to conduct training
In addition to the audit, the British High Commission is set to organize training sessions at all major international airports, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. These sessions will focus on security features of British passports and immigration procedures.
The training will be attended by FIA officials, airline staff, and ground handling service providers to ensure compliance with UK security and immigration standards.
