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Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday resumed flights to the United Kingdom, ending a five-year ban imposed following the scam involving fake pilot licenses.
In June 2020 the airline faced sanctions from both the UK and the European Union. This was followed by a fatal crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people, and subsequent revelations about pilots with fake licenses.
Following a comprehensive safety audit, the European ban was lifted in November 2024, paving the way for PIA to reinstate its suspended routes from January this year.
First Boeing 777 flight from islamabad To manchester PIA returns on Saturday after months of inspections and reforms, restoring UK confidence PakistanAviation system of.
“The flight to Manchester is a remarkable start, but we remain firmly committed to launching flights to London birmingham next,” Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said this in a function organized islamabad International Airport.
Asif said in a televised address that the flights were essential for more than 1.4 million Pakistanis in Britain and Europe, and added that the remittances they sent were the backbone of Pakistan’s economy.
“It is both a moral and national duty to provide them with direct flights,” he said. “These services will save their time, provide reasonable fares and provide direct air connectivity to their homeland.”
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Britain Mohammad Faisal described the re-launch as a major step for economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
“This milestone will bring huge economic benefits; generate substantial revenues, boost trade and tourism and expand the movement of people and goods,” he said at a recent event in London.
In 2020 it was reported that in the initial quarter Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) The pilots were not found to have a valid license.
It was believed that many had not even appeared for the Pakistan regulator’s pilot qualification test.
an investigation after karachi air crashIn which all the passengers and crew members lost their lives, it was found that 262 out of 850 pilot Those who possibly had fake licenses or had irregularities.
The PIA Airbus 320 was on a scheduled flight from Lahore to Karachi on 22 May when 97 passengers and crew members were killed when the aircraft was damaged on its first attempt to land.