Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday cleared the last hurdle in resuming direct passenger flights to the United Kingdom, as London issued the Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit (FOP).

Confirming the development, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan said the flight schedule for the UK would be released today.

He added that the national carrier’s return to British skies would provide much-needed convenience to passengers.

The Pakistan High Commission in London also announced the resumption on X, saying: “High Commissioner Dr Muhammad Faisal is grateful to the UK Civil Aviation Authority for issuing the Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit today, the final document enabling commercial flights between the UK and Pakistan.”

The post added that PIA had already secured the Third Country Operator (TCO) approval, and in the first phase, flights to Manchester will restart, followed by Birmingham and London.

The clearance came a day after the UK Department for Transport completed an aviation security inspection at Islamabad International Airport, declaring Pakistan’s arrangements “satisfactory and in line with international standards.”

Separately, PIA last week received the Air Cargo Carrier Three (ACC3) certificate from the UK Department for Transport, valid until 2030.

The certification allows cargo operations from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to the UK, with flights beginning in October, starting with Manchester and later expanding to Birmingham and London.