It is a long-overdue and excellent move for the UK to allow PIA to fly. In addition to giving the national flag carrier access to one of its most significant diaspora markets again, the regulatory certification increases the airline’s legitimacy internationally. It would be incorrect to view this progress as anything other than a runway, though, as privatization is where it will ultimately end up.
After a terrible incident in Karachi in June 2020 and the accompanying international warnings about pilot credential theft, the PIA was banned from the UK and EU airspace nearly five years ago. The airliner’s reputation was severely damaged by the catastrophe, and no investor ever again touched the white elephant. There is a bright side to the current situation, though.
