UK Lifts Ban on Pakistani Airlines After Five-Year Suspension
After a five-year suspension, the United Kingdom has lifted the ban that prevented Pakistani airlines from operating flights to its territory. The move will allow airlines to request the resumption of routes, marking a significant shift in aviation relations between the two countries.
A Ban Rooted in a Fake License Scandal
The ban was imposed in 2020, shortly after Pakistan’s then-Aviation Minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, revealed that nearly one-third of the country’s pilots had obtained their licenses fraudulently. The statement followed the tragic crash of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft in May of that year, which killed 97 people in Karachi, the capital of Sindh province and the nation’s economic hub.
This accident, coupled with the revelation of irregularities in pilot certifications, led British and European authorities to ban direct flights from Pakistan on safety grounds.
Green Light After Internationally Recognized Improvements
The UK’s decision follows a similar move by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) earlier this year, which also lifted its five-year ban. Both institutions acknowledged the substantial progress made by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority in aviation safety.
According to the British High Commission in Islamabad, the resolution resulted from “extensive cooperation” between the UK’s Aviation Safety Committee and Pakistani authorities. They emphasized that the process was based on independent technical assessments rather than political decisions.
→ Air India to Resume Flight Schedule in August After Reduction Due to Tragic Accident
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott expressed gratitude to the technical teams from both countries:
“I am grateful to the aviation experts from the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards,” she said.
She also added that she looks forward to flying with a Pakistani airline to visit family and friends once services normalize.
Economic Impact on PIA and Its Path to Recovery
Pakistan International Airlines, historically the only Pakistani carrier with long-haul routes to the UK and EU, was hit hardest by the suspension. It estimates annual losses of around 40 billion Pakistani rupees (approximately $144 million) due to the disruption of flights to key destinations like London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
The airline has confirmed it is finalizing logistical details to resume operations “as soon as possible,” with an initial route of three weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester, pending schedule approval.
Privatization Underway and New Goals on the Horizon
The lifting of the ban comes at a pivotal time, as the Pakistani government advances the privatization of PIA, a state-owned company with 7,000 employees that has faced criticism for inefficiency and overstaffing.
During a press conference, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif highlighted that the reopening of routes to the UK and Europe will increase the airline’s value ahead of its sale. He also expressed optimism about the potential resumption of flights to destinations like New York.
Related Topics
Argentina: Airline Sector Reaches a New Historic Record in International Travel
Emirates Inaugurates “Emirates First”: New and Exclusive First-Class Experience at Dubai Airport
Panama: Tocumen Airport Surpasses 10 Million Passengers in First Half of 2025
American Airlines to Launch First-Ever Provisions by Admirals Club Lounge at Charlotte Airport
Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.