Private Pakistani Airline Gets Approval for Direct Flights to UK

Private carrier Airblue has received approval from the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport (DfT) to operate flights between Pakistan and the UK, aviation sources confirmed on Wednesday. The approval, known as the Third Country Operator (TCO) license, allows the airline to launch direct services to British destinations. With this certification, Airblue becomes the only private Pakistani carrier currently permitted to connect the two countries directly. According to aviation officials, the airline will deploy Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft on the route. Flights are expected to make refueling stops in Türkiye before continuing onward to the UK. Airblue’s entry into the UK market is expected to provide more travel options for passengers, including the more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin living in Britain.