The United Kingdom has officially granted Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) a license to start cargo flight operations from Pakistan to the UK. This license, known as the Air Cargo Carrier Three (ACC3) certificate, will allow PIA to operate cargo flights for the next five years, until 2030.
What Does This Mean?
With this certificate, PIA can now fly cargo planes from major Pakistani cities — Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad — directly to the UK. This is a big opportunity for PIA to expand its services and increase revenue through cargo transport.
When Will Cargo Flights Begin?
PIA plans to start cargo flights in October 2025. The first cargo flight will operate to Manchester, followed by flights to Birmingham and London. This approval came after thorough inspections by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and the UK authorities.
Passenger Flights Facing Challenges
While PIA received the cargo license, the airline faced a setback regarding passenger flights. PIA failed to secure the Third Country Operations (TCO) license, which is required to operate passenger flights to the UK through third countries.
On the other hand, private airline Airblue successfully obtained this license. Airblue will operate its Airbus 320 and 321 planes to the UK, with refueling stops in Turkey.
Background: Why Was PIA’s License Suspended Earlier?
The UK had imposed a ban on PIA in 2020 after a crash in Karachi revealed serious safety concerns. It was discovered that about one-third of PIA pilots had questionable licenses, leading to the ban on PIA flights to the UK.
In July 2025, after improvements in Pakistan’s civil aviation security, the UK lifted this ban, allowing PIA to work towards resuming flights to the UK.
What’s Next for PIA?
The cargo license is a positive development for PIA, allowing it to restart operations in the UK market and build trust with international regulators. However, PIA still needs to address issues with passenger flights and secure the necessary licenses to fully restore its services to the UK.
Conclusion
The approval of the cargo license by the UK is an important step for PIA’s recovery and growth. Starting cargo operations will help PIA improve its financial health while it works on regaining full passenger flight privileges. This development is hopeful news for Pakistan’s national airline and its customers.
