After more than five years grounded from British skies, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has triumphantly resumed direct flights to the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s embattled flag carrier and the large British-Pakistani community. On Saturday, October 25, 2025, a PIA Boeing 777-200ER, adorned with special 'I ♥ Manchester' stickers, lifted off from Islamabad just after 12:45 pm local time, bound for Manchester—heralding a new era of renewed connectivity between the two countries.
The journey back to the UK wasn’t a simple one. PIA’s return follows a tumultuous period that began in June 2020, when a tragic Airbus A320 crash in Karachi claimed nearly 100 lives. The disaster, blamed on human error, triggered a series of damning revelations about pilot licensing irregularities—an investigation found that 262 out of 850 PIA pilots held potentially fake or irregular licenses. This scandal led to the immediate suspension of Pakistani airlines from flying to the UK, European Union, and United States, as reported by The Express Tribune and The Guardian.
For the more than 1.6 million British Pakistanis, the ban meant the loss of the only direct link to their homeland. Before the suspension, PIA operated 21 weekly flights to British cities: ten to London Heathrow, nine to Manchester, and two to Birmingham. In the absence of direct routes, travelers were forced to rely on Gulf and Turkish carriers, enduring long layovers and circuitous journeys. According to AeroXplorer, the demand for nonstop links remained high throughout the ban, with many eagerly awaiting PIA’s return.
The path to reinstatement was arduous. In the years following the ban, Pakistani authorities undertook sweeping reforms. Pilot training, licensing, aircraft maintenance, and safety protocols were overhauled to meet international standards. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency was the first to acknowledge these improvements, lifting its ban in November 2024, which allowed PIA to resume flights to Paris in January 2025. The UK followed suit on July 16, 2025, after concluding that aviation safety standards were now “satisfactory and in line with international norms.”
At a special pre-departure ceremony at Islamabad International Airport, attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, the mood was celebratory. Manchester-themed decorations, cake, and speeches set the stage for the inaugural flight. Defence Minister Asif called the moment a “major milestone in restoring PIA’s credibility,” crediting “hard work and determination” for the achievement. In his remarks, he emphasized, “After a long and difficult delay of five years, today the resumption of flights from Islamabad to Manchester is a feat we have achieved through our hard work and determination.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed these sentiments, congratulating the nation and the diaspora in the UK, stating, “With the grace and blessings of Allah Almighty, Pakistan’s image is being restored across the world.” He acknowledged that the suspension had damaged PIA’s global reputation, but insisted that “the journey of improvement in every national institution, through reforms, was progressing at rapid pace.”
The resumption of direct flights isn’t just symbolic. As Defence Minister Asif noted, “These services will save them [the diaspora] time, offer reasonable fares, and provide direct air links to their homeland.” Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, highlighted the broader impact, saying, “This milestone will bring major economic benefits; generating substantial revenue, boosting trade and tourism, and expanding the movement of people and goods.”
The first flight, carrying 273 passengers out of 319 available seats—an impressive 85% load factor—landed in Manchester just before 5:00 pm local time, greeted by a crowd of well-wishers from the local British Pakistani community. The significance of this moment was felt deeply, with many families and friends reunited after years of disrupted travel. As AeroXplorer described, the arrival drew “a large crowd, many from the local British Pakistani community who came with their families to witness this long-awaited moment.”
PIA’s operational challenges, however, are far from over. The airline, which employs around 7,000 people, has struggled for years with debt, mismanagement, and regulatory issues. Its long-haul fleet has been particularly hard hit: of twelve Boeing 777s, six remain grounded indefinitely due to financial difficulties in acquiring spare parts. This aircraft shortage has forced PIA to operate a limited schedule, with just two weekly flights each to Manchester and Paris, both using 777-200ERs. The government, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion loan program, is pushing ahead with privatization plans for the loss-making carrier, though a previous attempt collapsed after a buyer reportedly offered far below the asking price.
Despite these headwinds, PIA has ambitious plans. The airline intends to increase frequencies to Manchester and is eyeing a return to London Heathrow and Birmingham in the near future. As Defence Minister Asif told the assembled guests, “The flight to Manchester is a remarkable beginning, but we are firmly determined to start flights to London and Birmingham next.” The airline’s spokesperson confirmed that PIA has received the necessary Third Country Operator approval for UK operations, and that the number of flights will be gradually increased as resources allow.
The broader context for PIA’s return is one of economic necessity. Britain is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral commerce worth about £4.7 billion ($5.7 billion) annually. Remittances from the diaspora in the UK and Europe are a vital source of foreign exchange for Pakistan—an economic lifeline during turbulent times. As Asif noted, “Remittances they send were the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Providing them with direct flights is both a moral and national duty.”
Yet, the shadow of the 2020 crash and the pilot licensing scandal lingers. The reforms that followed were not just for show; they were essential to restoring confidence in Pakistan’s aviation sector. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, who attended the Islamabad ceremony, expressed her “genuine joy” at waving off the first PIA flight to the UK in five years, saying, “Here’s to more destinations and connections!”
For many, PIA’s return represents more than just a flight. It’s a story of redemption, resilience, and the enduring ties between Pakistan and its diaspora. While the challenges ahead are daunting, the sight of that 21-year-old Boeing 777-200ER, with its cheerful Manchester decals, taxiing down the runway offered a powerful symbol of hope—and a reminder that, sometimes, the journey back is just as important as the destination.