Airblue and PIA cleared to serve direct flights to UK from Pakistan after 5-year hiatus
September 25, 2025
In a breakthrough for Pakistan-UK aviation links, Airblue and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have announced the return of flights to Leeds and Manchester in northern England.
The two Pakistan-based carriers have been granted Third Country Operator (TCO) licences from the UK’s Department of Transport (DoT). The TCO enables airlines to operate direct flights to the UK.
Airblue’s links to Leeds Bradford Airport, which will start in November, and PIA’s return to Manchester Airport in October mark the first time Pakistani airlines have served the two UK hubs in over five years.
Airblue goes head-to-head with PIA on UK flights
Airblue is a private airline based at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. It began operations in 2004 and is Pakistan’s second-largest airline behind PIA. It operates a fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft.
Big news! 🎉
— Airblue (@airblueairline) September 24, 2025
Airblue has been awarded the UK TCO Certificate — a milestone achievement that brings us closer to expanding our horizons in the United Kingdom. 🌍✈️
#FlyingRedefined #airblue pic.twitter.com/n1pPT70zZi
Airblue’s flights to Leeds will originate in Islamabad and fly via Istanbul.
The airline is also expected to commence flights to Manchester at a slightly later date. It is currently negotiating to secure further landing rights at other UK hubs, possibly including London Heathrow, according to a report in Gulf News.
Describing the UK TCO certificate as recognition of its commitment to international safety, quality and regulatory standards, a statement from Airblue read: “This accomplishment is an important step in our roadmap towards exploring future opportunities in the UK.”
Airblue is now set to compete with Pakistan’s national carrier, PIA, on its UK routes, with both carriers reestablishing links to airports in northern England.
PIA is scheduled to resume flights to Manchester in October, with services to Birmingham and London expected to follow shortly after, according to a statement from the airline.
#PIA gets TCO Certification from #UK. Plan to resume UK operations by next month.
— PIA (@Official_PIA) September 24, 2025
CEO PIA thanks @PakPMO, @MIshaqDar50, @KhawajaMAsif, Ministry of Defence, @official_pcaa & other affiliated institutions for their patronage and unwavering support.
The national carrier’s TCO was issued the same day the UK’s DoT issued PIA Security and Cargo AC3 certificates for five years. “These certificates, issued by international aviation organisations, are a manifestation of complete confidence in PIA’s air operations and safety,” the statement said.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, PIA plans to operate four weekly flights to Manchester using its fleet of Boeing 777-200 widebody aircraft.
PIA’s return to UK skies follows an announcement in July that privatisation plans are underway for the government-owned carrier. As part of an aggressive restructuring and privatisation effort backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government of Pakistan had shortlisted four contenders to acquire a controlling stake in the 70-year-old airline.
Return of Pakistani airlines to UK skies after five-year suspension
The return of Pakistani carriers to the UK signals a renewed confidence in Pakistan’s aviation safety oversight.
Recently, the UK removed Pakistan from its aviation safety blacklist following a five-year suspension. During this time, Middle Eastern and European carriers filled in gaps between the two destinations.
The UK’s decision to lift the ban on Pakistani carriers follows the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA’s) move to lift a similar four-year ban for Pakistan-based airlines in November 2024.
EASA cited serious safety concerns behind the ban following the crash of PIA flight PK8303, operated by an Airbus A320 in Karachi in May 2022. Concerns were also raised around pilot licences after over 200 pilots were grounded, with the then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan describing the licences as “dubious.”
Airblue and PIA’s new connections will boost tourism and trade links between northern England and Pakistan and will serve diaspora communities, students and business travellers alike.
According to TravelsDubai, Airblue had first applied to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for the TCO in July. The original request was for Islamabad-Manchester services, but it opted to start UK operations with Leeds instead.
For both Leeds and Manchester, the return of air services to and from Pakistan represents not just another international route; it reinstates a deeper commercial and cultural exchange with South Asia’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
