Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume direct flights to the United States of America (USA) soon. According to the reports, Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to settle pending financial obligations.
According to DG CAA Nadir Shafi Dar, payments to the FAA are expected to be made soon to expedite the process. The FAA delegation will be visiting Pakistan in February or mid-March.
Pakistan expected to be upgraded to ‘Category One’ status with FAA, required to operate direct flights to the USA. The status was downgraded to Category 2 following a European and UK ban on Pakistani flights.
Direct flights to the USA were suspended back in 2017. Before that national carrier was operating six flights per week between Pakistan and the USA. This included four flights to New York and two to Chicago.
Defense Minister Khwaja Asif revealed that PIA is set to resume direct flights to the UK by the end of February. Moreover, PIA is planning to launch direct flights to 19 European destinations, including Barcelona and Milan.
With direct flights to the USA and Canada, the government is making PIA lucrative for private investors.
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On the other hand, PIA is also looking forward to starting direct flight operations to the UK.
British Safety Committee has reportedly set a meeting on March 12th, 2025 to review the situation for the resumption of direct flights of PIA to the UK.
During the meeting, the committee will review the resumption of the direct flights of PIA to the UK. The British Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport (DFT) will present the latest audit reports of PIA and Pakistan Civil Aviation.
If the British Safety Committee approves, PIA will resume direct flights to the UK. Direct flights to the UK have been suspended since 2020. Sources reveal that PIA management is hopeful about the restoration of flights to the UK following the successful resumption of operations in European countries.