Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is planning to launch direct flights to Barcelona and Milan following the resumption of its European operations, acting on instructions from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Expanding European connectivity
After reopening routes to Europe, PIA is exploring new destinations to meet travel demands. The defence minister directed the airline to prioritise Barcelona and Milan due to their sizeable overseas Pakistani populations.
Serving overseas Pakistanis
Khawaja Asif emphasised that direct flights would provide much-needed travel convenience for Pakistanis living in these cities. Milan, in particular, hosts a large community from Sialkot — the minister’s home constituency.
Also Read: UK lifts ban on Pakistani airlines, removes Pakistan from Air Safety List
In July, the United Kingdom officially removed Pakistan from its air safety list, paving the way for Pakistani airlines to resume operations in British airspace after a five-year ban. The development sparked a wave of relief and optimism among aviation authorities, passengers, and Pakistani communities abroad.
The announcement was made by the British High Commission in Islamabad, where High Commissioner Jane Marriott praised the collaborative efforts of aviation experts from both countries. “I look forward to traveling with Pakistani airlines,” she said.
Following the UK’s decision, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) swiftly initiated preparations to resume direct flights to the UK. In the first phase, PIA started operating three weekly flights to Manchester using Boeing 777 aircraft.
Also Read: PIA issues UK flight schedule, as ban lifted on Pakistani airlines
In the second phase, the airline plans to restore flight operations from Islamabad and Lahore to London and Birmingham, subject to schedule approval and clearance from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The ban was originally imposed in 2020 after former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan claimed in parliament that a significant number of Pakistani pilots held fake licenses. The statement led to an international backlash, causing both the UK and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to suspend Pakistani airline operations.
