Following the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) direct flights to Europe, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ramped up efforts to lift the ban on PIA’s operations to the UK.
According to CAA sources, a delegation from the UK’s Department for Transport (DFT) will visit Pakistan in mid-January. The delegation will arrive in Karachi between January 15 and 17, 2025, to conduct a safety audit of both PIA and the CAA. The results of previous audits have been successful, and there is optimism that the ban on direct PIA flights to the UK will be lifted by February. PIA is ready to restart flights to the UK, beginning with direct routes to Manchester, followed by London and other cities in the second phase.
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The UK DFT has shown a willingness to grant an exemption in the security audit process and has expressed confidence in the CAA’s manual report. CAA Director-General Nader Shafi Dar is leading the safety and security teams to ensure the smooth resumption of operations. PIA will operate its Boeing 777 aircraft for flights to the UK and Europe.
In line with its expansion plans, PIA is also rejuvenating its fleet. The airline plans to increase its operational fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft to eight, A-320 aircraft to 12, and ATR planes to two. This expansion is part of PIA’s aggressive operational plan for 2025.
Export of Trained Pakistani Pilots
On another note, Director General of CAA, Nader Shafi Dar, also announced plans to export trained Pakistani pilots to international airlines due to a regional shortage of cockpit pilots. The CAA has already initiated this process, with two international companies expressing interest. One company has begun Phase 1 of the project, which involves ground training at their academy in Sharjah.
The CAA is actively working on providing training from initial cockpit lessons to full commercial pilot certification, and the trainees will be employed by commercial airlines upon completion. This initiative is expected to support Pakistan’s aviation industry growth, despite the high costs of initial flying hours, ranging from Rs100 million to Rs150 million.
