PIA gets London's Heathrow slots back from Turkish Airlines to expand UK operation
Turkish
Airlines has returned 14 weekly winter-season landing and takeoff slots at London Heathrow Airport to Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA), paving the way for the Pakistani carrier to
expand its UK operations as it seeks to rebuild its international network.
According to local media reports, PIA will begin
utilizing the returned slots from October 25, 2026, coinciding with the start
of the Northern Hemisphere winter schedule. The airline plans to operate
services to London from Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Sialkot using the newly
restored slot allocation.
The Heathrow slots had been temporarily transferred to
Turkish Airlines after PIA suspended its operations to Europe following
regulatory restrictions imposed in 2020. At the time, the airline was unable to
utilize the valuable airport slots due to a ban on its flights to the United
Kingdom and the European Union.
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leases London’s Heathrow slots amid ongoing flight ban
PIA's international operations were severely disrupted
after the European Union Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority suspended the
airline's operating rights following concerns over Pakistan's pilot licensing
system. The restrictions came after Pakistani authorities disclosed that
hundreds of pilots across the country possessed questionable or improperly
validated licenses, prompting international regulators to review the country's
aviation oversight.
The suspension dealt a significant financial blow to
PIA, forcing the airline to halt flights to key European and UK destinations
and resulting in the temporary transfer of its Heathrow slots to Turkish
Airlines to preserve their future use.
The return of the slots marks another milestone in PIA's
recovery following its recent privatization. The airline is now under the
ownership of a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group, which has pledged to
modernize the carrier, restore profitability, and expand its international
footprint.
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asked to reconsider the decision of closure of PIA London Office
Industry sources also indicate that PIA's new management
is expected to unveil plans on August 14, 2026, outlining the acquisition of
additional aircraft and the launch of new international routes as part of a
broader fleet and network expansion strategy.
London Heathrow remains one of the world's busiest and most
capacity-constrained airports, making its landing and takeoff slots among the
most valuable assets for international airlines. Their return provides PIA with
greater flexibility to restore services to one of its most important overseas
markets, serving Pakistan's large diaspora in the United Kingdom.
Source: 24
News