US FAA delegation to visit Pakistan in January 2026 for direct flights audit

The process to resume direct flights between Pakistan and the United States has entered its final stages, as a delegation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to visit Pakistan early next year, reported 24News HD Channel on Sunday.

According to official sources, the FAA team will arrive in January 2026 to conduct a comprehensive audit of various Pakistani airports. 

The findings of the audit will determine whether Pakistan qualifies for the resumption of direct air operations to the United States.

This upcoming visit follows an earlier FAA delegation’s tour of Pakistan in September 2025, during which the team gave a positive signal for direct flight operations after assessing airport infrastructure and airline standards.

Officials said that the second visit by the FAA delegation will help remove the final procedural obstacles to the restoration of Pakistan–US direct flights, which have been suspended for several years.

Reporter: Tayyab Saif