The Afghan airline Ariana is hoping to reintroduce direct flights between Britain and Afghanistan.

The move comes almost a decade after a domestic Ariana flight was hijacked and diverted to Stansted by Afghans seeking asylum.

The airline is currently banned from UK airspace after failing stringent safety checks; however Ariana has recently bought two Airbus 310/300 planes and is confident of clearing its name.

Security at Kabul airport has also been stepped up after the contract was awarded to British company Global, and chief executive and president of Ariana, Captain Moin Khan Wardak is hoping the European Union will lift the ban later this year.

Wardak hopes to see flights to and from either Heathrow or Gatwick operating from next spring.