ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been accorded formal approval as a Third Country Operator (TCO) for UK. PIA will resume direct flights to Britain from October. In the first phase flights will be resumed for Manchester. Later Birmingham and London will be included in net work. UK transport department has formally informed PIA in this respect. Comprehensive approval has been accorded to PIA whereby PIA will operate direct flights. Separately, Britain’s Department for Transport confirmed that PIA had been designated “ACC3” — an aviation security certification required for non-European airlines flying cargo to the UK — from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. ACC3 certificate has been issued by Britain’s Department for Transport to PIA security and cargo for five years. CEO PIA has thanked Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister, defence minister , ministry of defence and civil aviation and other allied institutions for patronage and cooperation.
He also thanked PIA team which faced several audits with determination for five years and achieved success therein.
