PIA to Approach UK’s Department for Transport for UK Flights Resumption

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Boeing 777s at London Heathrow Airport in year 2020

"PIA plans to approach the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) for UK route resumption, as EASA clearance is a prerequisite for their decision," PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan told Reuters.

PIA intends to resume flights to London, Manchester, and Birmingham after getting UK approval.

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2581391/pakistan

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) already has allowed Pakistani airlines including PIA and airblue to operate flights to & from European Union (EU) member states.

Presently, all airlines from Pakistan banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom (UK).

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-air-safety-list#pakistan

Abbas

[Amaad Lone]

PIA should try to refurbish their four five 777s for flights to Europe and UK. New seats, new toilets a fresh feel if they want to re-attract passengers that have gone to a much superior product from the Middle East. Plus a fresh coat of paint would do wonders for the 20 year old Boeings.

[Usman123]

A new Retro livery on one of the 777s for EU like the one on 747-200s during 1990s will be amazing and would definitely catch attention. Check images of AP-AYW for reference.

[Karachi Aviator]

CEO PIA mentioned that it costs $ 3-4 million to refurbish one 777. Doubt they have these many resources. Just newer or after market seats would be a huge improvement.

[AviationLover2020]

Even if PIA cannot refurbish aircraft with new seats, at least making sure the current seats are in reasonable condition would do. Currently, business class seats don't recline, and economy seats are torn/broken. Just making sure these seats actually function, and the toilets are working/kept clean on longhaul flights, would go a huge way.

I wonder if it is too much to ask to bring back the iPads in business class and install wifi in planes so economy pax can also stream pre-downloaded movies supplied by PIA (or even watch their own)?

[nopy99]

The diaspora want these direct flights resumed ASAP. especially elderly pax and families.

PIAC is in survival mode and to be honest IFE has not been operational on the fleet for so long, that it should just be dispensed with. I think PAX know that IFE will not work. The focus needs to be on maintenance and regulatory compliance to avoid any further non compliance issues and more controls being implemented.

My concern with PIA would be whether the ticket would be honored and if they can keep the schedule running.

[planefan2003]

The diaspora want these direct flights resumed ASAP. especially elderly pax and families.

PIAC is in survival mode and to be honest IFE has not been operational on the fleet for so long, that it should just be dispensed with. I think PAX know that IFE will not work. The focus needs to be on maintenance and regulatory compliance to avoid any further non compliance issues and more controls being implemented.

My concern with PIA would be whether the ticket would be honored and if they can keep the schedule running.

Agreed we just need some consistency in the service and then PIA will attract more customers. IFE shouldn’t be a priority at this time.

[faisal-777]

The diaspora want these direct flights resumed ASAP. especially elderly pax and families.

PIAC is in survival mode and to be honest IFE has not been operational on the fleet for so long, that it should just be dispensed with. I think PAX know that IFE will not work. The focus needs to be on maintenance and regulatory compliance to avoid any further non compliance issues and more controls being implemented.

My concern with PIA would be whether the ticket would be honored and if they can keep the schedule running.

Agreed we just need some consistency in the service and then PIA will attract more customers. IFE shouldn’t be a priority at this time.

I am actually amused and surprised by the fact that IFE is a factor for some passengers when considering airline. In an era where everyone has their own device, why focus on IFE. Give us internet onboard, and you can remove IFE at all.

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan-origin British MP Yasmin Qureshi has called for lifting ban on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights in the UK.

She addressed the issue in a letter to the UK Secretary of Transport.

The letter highlighted that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has already lifted its restrictions on PIA, urging the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to follow suit.

MP Qureshi highlighted that resuming direct flights would ease the difficulties faced by British Pakistanis, who currently struggle due to the lack of such services.

The letter also pointed out that lifting the ban would allow families to transport their loved ones’ remains to their native region in Pakistan with greater convenience.

Additionally, it praised the competence of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which contributed to the lifting of restrictions in Europe, urging similar immediate action in the UK.

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/854820 ... parliament

[Abbas Ali]

Geo News

PIA has sent letter to UK's Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to seek earliest possible permission for resumption of airline's flights between Pakistan and UK suspended since July 2020.


Geo News

In the letter PIA has sought restoration of Third Country Operator (UK- Part TCO) certificate for the airline.

PIA intends to resume flights from Pakistan to London, Manchester and Birmingham.

PIA has informed the British authorities that it has been allowed to resume flights to European Union (EU) members states by European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and is resuming flights to Paris from January 10, 2025.

Abbas

[Amaad Lone]

I think PIA is probably getting a few 777s back in operation, that is why it has been getting engines from different sources.

Two 777s for UK can operate 12 flights which is probably what PIA is planning and a single 777 for Europe for five or six flights.