Published on, Sept. 24 -- September 24, 2025 5:03 PM

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has received Third Country Operator (TCO) approval to operate flights to the United Kingdom, raising expectations that direct services will resume next month. This major development comes after the UK removed Pakistan from its air safety watch list in July, making Pakistani airlines eligible to apply for operating permissions. The decision follows a thorough inspection of Islamabad International Airport's aviation security by UK authorities, who declared Pakistan's safety measures satisfactory and in line with international standards.

Following the TCO certification, PIA confirmed it can now operate direct passenger and cargo flights to the UK wit...