Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the state-run carrier, resumed flights to the United Kingdom on Saturday after a five-year suspension following a pilot license scandal.

The UK and European Union banned PIA in June 2020 after a Karachi plane crash killed nearly 100 people and investigations revealed that dozens of Pakistani pilots held fake licenses. The European ban was lifted in November 2024 after comprehensive safety audits, allowing the airline to restart operations earlier this year.

A Boeing 777 departed from Islamabad to Manchester on Saturday, marking PIA’s first UK flight since 2020. The airline underwent extensive inspections and reforms aimed at restoring international confidence in Pakistan’s aviation standards.

Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, speaking at a ceremony at Islamabad International Airport, called the resumption “a remarkable beginning” and announced plans to expand routes to London and Birmingham soon.

He emphasized that direct flights were vital for the 1.4 million Pakistanis living in Britain and Europe, noting that their remittances are a key source of foreign exchange. “Providing them with direct flights is both a moral and national duty,” Asif said. “These services will save time, reduce costs, and strengthen air links with their homeland.”

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, hailed the move as a major boost to bilateral relations. “This milestone will bring economic benefits by generating revenue, promoting trade and tourism, and facilitating people-to-people connections,” he said during an event in London.

The airline’s relaunch is seen as an important step toward rebuilding PIA’s global reputation after years of operational and financial challenges.