Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and AirBlue have moved a step closer to resuming direct flights to the United Kingdom, as the British Safety Committee has scheduled a crucial meeting on March 12 to make a final decision.
According to sources, the committee will review the possibility of reinstating flight operations for both airlines. A key part of the discussion will be the audit report compiled during the recent visit of a British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Transport Department team to Pakistan.
The British team had conducted a detailed assessment of PIA and Pakistan's CAA, evaluating safety and operational standards. If the British Safety Committee grants approval, it will mark the lifting of the UK travel ban on Pakistani airlines that has been in place since July 2020.
Sources indicate that Pakistan's aviation authorities have been working diligently to restore international flight operations, with European destinations already reopening. The latest developments suggest a strong likelihood that direct flights to the UK will soon resume.
Before the ban, PIA and AirBlue collectively operated 35 weekly flights to major British cities. In preparation for the potential resumption, a two-member PIA team recently visited the UK to assess operational requirements for flights to London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Additionally, the airline has issued a catering services tender for its Manchester-Birmingham flight operations.
