Overview

• PIA says it has received UK Third Country Operator certification and plans to restart flights to Manchester next month, followed by Birmingham and London.
• A UK Department for Transport letter cited by Geo News confirms ACC3 designations through August 2030 for cargo from Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, removing EDS screening at Islamabad and Lahore while allowing spot inspections.
• Pakistan Observer reports the TCO for passenger flights is still pending, underscoring uncertainty about the exact status of permissions needed to carry travelers.
• UK authorities have granted a five-year cargo license after audits, enabling freight operations to Britain, as PIA contends with an aircraft shortage that could constrain service.
• The UK restrictions imposed after the 2020 crash and pilot-licence scandal have been eased this year, even as an audit estimates Rs9 billion in losses from past free and heavily discounted ticketing practices.