Pakistan International Airlines announced on Wednesday that it will resume direct flights next month on its most profitable route to Britain, ending a five-year ban ahead of the planned privatization of the national carrier this year.
Britain has cleared the airline to operate passenger and cargo flights, PIA said in a statement, adding that it would start operations from Manchester before extending them to Birmingham and London.
The privatization of the airline is a key condition of Pakistan’s $7-billion bailout by the International Monetary Fund.
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Britain and the European Union suspended PIA’s operation in the region in 2020 over safety concerns, after Pakistan’s then aviation minister said some of its pilots had fake licenses.
The EU lifted its ban in November after Pakistan worked to meet benchmarks set by international aviation regulators.
This month, PIA reported its first pre-tax profit in two decades.
Islamabad has drawn interest in the national carrier from five domestic business groups, including Airblue, Lucky Cement (LUKC.PSX), investment firm Arif Habib (AHL.PSX), and military-backed Fauji Fertilizer (FAUF.PSX).
Final bids are expected later this year.
