ISLAMABAD: In a significant breakthrough announced on July 16, 2025, the United Kingdom’s Air Safety Committee officially removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, ending a ban that had barred Pakistani carriers—including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)—from operating flights to the UK since mid‑2020 .
The prohibition, initially imposed in July 2020 by UK and European regulators, followed Pakistan’s alarming fake pilot licence scandal. Investigations revealed that hundreds of pilots—including around 260 in Pakistan—held fraudulent qualifications, with some allegedly outsourcing their licence exams. The crisis intensified in the wake of PIA Flight 8303, which crashed in Karachi that same month, claiming 97 lives .
Over the succeeding years, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) engaged in rigorous audits and reviews. In parallel, Britain deployed a State Safety Partnership team to assist with aviation oversight improvements—followed by an audit from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which granted PIA its EU access last November .
With the UK’s removal of Pakistan from the safety list, PIA and other Pakistani carriers can now apply for permit approvals to resume routes to London, Manchester, Birmingham, and potentially even flights to New York . While individual operating permissions from the UK CAA are still required, this move restores the framework for direct UK‑Pakistan air connectivity .
The relaunch is set to benefit the 1.6 million strong Pakistani diaspora in the UK, reducing reliance on Middle Eastern transit hubs and strengthening cargo and trade links—UK‑Pakistan bilateral trade currently stands at approximately £4.7 billion, with the UK ranked third among Pakistan’s trading partners .
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Economically, the decision comes at a pivotal moment. The ban had cost PIA an estimated ₹ 40 billion (~PKR 40 billion) in lost revenue annually . Meanwhile, PIA recently recorded its first operating profit in 21 years, and the government is in the process of privatising the airline after approving four bidder groups for a 51–100% stake earlier this month. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif highlighted that restoration of international routes will enhance PIA’s valuation ahead of sale .
Looking ahead, the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Jane Marriott, lauded the collaborative efforts between UK and Pakistani aviation authorities. Although she cautioned that flights “won’t resume overnight,” she expressed optimism about soon “flying with a Pakistani airline once services restart” .
This move aligns with the EU’s decision last November to lift its ban and with PIA’s successful launch of a direct route from Islamabad to Paris in January 2025 . Commentators now anticipate PIA will swiftly secure required UK permissions and relaunch key long-haul routes within months—reviving vital air links and enhancing Pakistan’s global connectivity.
