Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has landed in the UK for the first time in five years. The state-owned airline was banned from here and the EU in 2020 after a fatal crash led to the discovery that more than 200 of its 850 pilots had fake licenses. But now, after substantial inspections and reforms, confidence in the airline has been restored.
All but two of the people onboard the PIA flight to Karachi were killed when its crashed into a residential area of the city on May 22, 2020. Another person who was on the ground died later from their injuries. A subsequent investigation into the disaster found that 262 of the pilots had either fake licenses or ones that contained irregularities. It also discovered that many of them hadn’t even taken their qualification exams.
The ban was lifted in November last year following (rest assured) extensive safety checks and reforms. PIA then finally made its return to the UK with a Boeing 777 flight from Islamabad to Manchester on Saturday, October 25. The eight-hour flight will now run from Manchester’s new Terminal 2 every Tuesday and Saturday.
Chris Woodroofe, the managing director at Manchester Airport, said: ‘We know hundreds of thousands of passengers from our catchment area travel to Pakistan every year but don’t have the option of enjoying the benefits of a direct connection.
‘Our partnership with Pakistan International Airlines puts that right and adds Islamabad to our route network of more than 200 destinations served by 50-plus airlines.
‘This new route will be a real boost to the region’s Pakistani community and opens up an easy way for tourists to visit an exciting country.’
Muhammad Amir Hayat, CEO of Pakistan International Airlines, added: ‘We have worked tirelessly to not only rectify past challenges but to establish a robust and world-class aviation safety framework.
‘The return of PIA to the UK is a direct result of these efforts and a clear signal of our renewed operational integrity and financial health, promising a reliable and affordable service for all.’
PIA hopes to get flights to Birmingham up and running next, followed by flights to London Heathrow, depending on demand.
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