ISLAMABAD: Following the revival of its European routes, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to commence direct flights to Barcelona and Milan, under directives from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
With the resumption of services to Europe, PIA is actively considering additional destinations to cater to growing passenger demand. The Defence Minister has specifically instructed the airline to focus on launching routes to Barcelona and Milan, recognizing the significant overseas Pakistani communities in these cities.
Khawaja Asif highlighted that direct flights will significantly ease travel for Pakistanis residing in Barcelona and Milan. Notably, Milan is home to a large Sialkot community, the Minister’s hometown, underscoring the importance of these routes.
In related developments, Pakistan was officially removed from the UK’s air safety list in July, ending a five-year ban that had restricted Pakistani airlines from operating in British airspace. This decision was met with optimism from aviation officials, passengers, and Pakistani expatriates.
The British High Commission in Islamabad announced the move, with High Commissioner Jane Marriott praising the joint efforts of aviation authorities from both nations. She expressed enthusiasm about flying with Pakistani airlines in the future.
In response, PIA quickly moved to resume flights to the UK. The airline initially launched three weekly flights to Manchester using Boeing 777 aircraft. Subsequently, plans are underway to restore flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London and Birmingham, pending approval from UK Civil Aviation authorities.
The UK ban was initially imposed in 2020 after former Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan claimed that many Pakistani pilots held fake licenses. This controversy led to international sanctions, including suspension of Pakistani airline operations by the UK and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
