PIA seeks approval for UK flight operations

KARACHI: After Europe, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is now seeking approval to resume its flight operations in the United Kingdom, ARY News reported

According to details, PIA has sent a formal letter to the UK Department of Transport and Civil Aviation under the instructions of CEO Khurram Mushtaq.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources revealed that it has received the letter, stating that permission should be granted for the resumption of PIA flights in the UK.

The letter also includes PIA’s request to reinstate the Third Country Authorisation for operations in the UK. PIA aims to resume flights to London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

PIA’s letter also highlights plans to operate its first flight to Paris on January 10, 2025, following the restoration of European operations.

The resumption of UK flights is expected to boost PIA’s revenue significantly. The airline’s services were suspended four years ago due to a pilot licensing scandal that led to bans in Europe and the UK.

Earlier, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had ‘agreed’ to Pakistan’s conditions for International Airlines (PIA) privatization.

According to sources, the IMF has reportedly agreed to the elimination of sales tax on aircraft purchase or lease for buyers and the settlement of equity losses for PIA privatization.

With the ‘approval’ of the IMF, the intended buyers will be granted sales tax exemptions for purchasing or leasing aircraft for all routes. The removal of sales tax exemptions and equity losses could increase bidding for PIA to as high as Rs350 billion.

Pakistan International Airlines’ lease agreements will benefit from a monthly sales tax exemption of approximately 8.1 million rupees, sources added.

In another development, the government has restructured PIA’s debt, transferring the 660 billion rupees liability to a holding company, sources confirmed.

The funds from the sale of the Roosevelt Hotel will be used to settle liabilities, and the IMF has approved the use of these proceeds to clear the PIA Holding Company’s debts.

For the Roosevelt Hotel, a joint venture is estimated to generate up to 1 billion dollars in sales within six months.

Prime minister has been briefed on the sales tax exemption, elimination of equity losses, and the joint venture sale of Roosevelt Hotel. Initially, the IMF approved sales tax exemption for aircraft purchased or leased for international routes, the sources said.

Upon a subsequent request, sales tax exemption has now been extended for aircraft purchased or leased for domestic routes as well.