Pakistan International Airlines (pia) Nears Approval For Direct Uk Flights: Tco License In Final Stages, Expanding Global Connectivity

Published on September 24, 2025

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is successful nan last stages of securing nan Third Country Operator (TCO) licence from nan United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT). Once granted, nan nationalist bearer plans to denote its direct formation operations to nan United Kingdom, marking a important milestone successful its way description . While Airblue, a backstage airline, has already received its TCO licence and intends to run nonstop flights to nan UK pinch a refueling extremity successful Türkiye, PIA’s constricted fleet has raised concerns astir its expertise to meet increasing request for these nonstop connections.

TCO License: A Step Towards Direct UK Flights

The support of nan TCO licence is important for PIA to resume nonstop flights betwixt Pakistan and nan UK. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that nan hose is nearing nan last stages of nan support process and expressed assurance that nan licence will beryllium secured shortly. This improvement is expected to bring PIA’s long-awaited UK services backmost to passengers, catering to nan important request for direct flights. The resumption of these services will apt thief passengers debar lengthy layovers and supply an businesslike replacement to connecting flights.

PIA had antecedently suspended its Lahore-Paris flights to prioritize nan UK services, which are anticipated to resume by mid-October 2025. The UK has been 1 of nan cardinal world markets for PIA, pinch request for nonstop flights increasing successful caller years.

Airblue’s Advancement successful nan Market

In contrast, Airblue, different Pakistani airline, has successfully obtained its TCO license from nan UK Department for Transport and plans to motorboat nonstop flights betwixt Pakistan and nan UK. Airblue intends to run Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, pinch a refuelling extremity successful Türkiye earlier continuing to nan UK. This move positions Airblue arsenic a competitor to PIA successful nan increasing marketplace for nonstop flights to nan UK. Despite PIA’s constricted fleet, it is expected that Airblue’s introduction into nan marketplace will supply further options for passengers seeking nonstop flights to nan UK.

Fleet Expansion Plans for PIA

To support its expanding world network, PIA is undergoing a fleet description to heighten formation operations. As of 2025, PIA operates a fleet of 32 aircraft, including:

• Airbus A320-200: 17 aircraft
• Boeing 777-200ER: 6 aircraft
• Boeing 777-200LR: 2 aircraft
• Boeing 777-300ER: 4 craft (with 6 much connected order)
• ATR 42-500: 3 aircraft

As portion of its 2025 strategy, PIA plans to adhd eight much aircraft by nan extremity of nan year, aiming to amended formation operations and grow its work offerings. However, nan airline’s existent fleet capacity has constrained its expertise to grow its world routes, particularly to high-demand destinations for illustration nan UK.

New International Routes and Expanding Global Presence

In summation to nan anticipated UK services, PIA has already introduced several caller world routes successful 2025, which show nan airline’s increasing beingness connected nan world stage. These caller routes include:

• Baku, Azerbaijan: Direct flights from Lahore commenced connected April 20, 2025, pinch convenient connections from Karachi.
• Middle East Expansion:
  • Sialkot to Bahrain: 2 play flights starting January 20, 2025.
  • Lahore to Dammam: 2 play flights starting January 22, 2025.
  • Lahore to Kuwait: 1 play formation starting January 25, 2025.
  • Faisalabad to Jeddah: 1 play formation starting January 20, 2025.
  • Sialkot to Doha: 1 play formation starting January 21, 2025.
• Europe:
  • Paris: Flights resumed connected January 10, 2025, aft nan European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its four-year ban.
  • Manchester: Flights are group to commence successful September 2025, pursuing nan UK’s Civil Aviation Authority lifting its prohibition connected PIA.

Strategic Partnerships to Enhance Connectivity

To further heighten its network, PIA has established codeshare agreements pinch respective world airlines. These partnerships include:

• China Southern Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Kenya Airways
• Thai Airways International
• Turkish Airlines

These agreements alteration PIA to connection a wider scope of destinations and seamless connections for its passengers. By collaborating pinch world carriers, PIA tin heighten its offerings, particularly to regions it whitethorn not service directly.

Operational Hubs and Future Outlook

PIA’s superior hub is Jinnah International Airport (KHI) successful Karachi, pinch secondary hubs astatine Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) successful Lahore and Islamabad International Airport (ISB) successful Islamabad. Currently, nan hose operates astir 50 flights daily, serving 20 home destinations and 28 world destinations crossed Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Looking ahead, PIA intends to further heighten its fleet and way web to stay competitory successful nan world aviation market. The summation of caller craft and nan description of world routes, particularly to nan UK, are important to PIA’s maturation strategy. Despite challenges specified arsenic constricted fleet capacity and geopolitical tensions, PIA’s efforts to grow its world beingness are captious for its early success.

Conclusion: Strengthening Operations for a Competitive Future

PIA’s fleet description , new world routes, and strategic partnerships are positioning nan hose to meet nan increasing request for world travel, peculiarly successful nan UK market. However, nan airline’s limited fleet and ongoing financial pressures coming challenges to its afloat betterment and competitiveness.

The securing of nan TCO license for nonstop UK flights will play a pivotal domiciled successful PIA’s success, but nan airline’s expertise to grow its fleet and unafraid accordant operations will find its semipermanent prospects. As PIA continues to fortify its operations and grow its world reach, passengers tin expect enhanced connectivity and amended work options successful nan future.