UK lifts 5-year ban on Pakistani airlines after safety reforms
The United Kingdom has officially lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, following significant improvements in the country’s aviation safety standards.
The ban, imposed in June 2020, came after a safety scandal revealed that a large number of Pakistani pilots were flying with fraudulent licenses. The issue surfaced in the wake of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Flight 8303 crash in Karachi, which killed 97 people.
According to the UK’s Department for Transport, an independent review confirmed that Pakistan now meets international safety requirements. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan praised the “extensive engagement” between the two countries’ aviation authorities in recent years.
Pakistani airlines, including PIA and Airblue, must still obtain operational approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority before resuming flights. PIA has already announced plans to restart a thrice-weekly Islamabad–Manchester route, pending clearance.
Economic and industry impact
The decision is expected to benefit the UK’s 1.6 million-strong Pakistani diaspora and improve trade links between the two countries. For PIA, the reopening of UK routes is critical as the carrier faces ongoing financial challenges and prepares for a potential privatization process.
PIA has been working to restore its long-haul network after years of isolation. The airline resumed flights to Paris in January 2025, its first to the European Union in four years, after EASA lifted its ban.
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At the same time, Islamabad is accelerating efforts to privatize the airline. On July 9, 2025, the Ministry of Privatization announced that four bidders, Airblue, Fauji Fertilizer, and two consortiums led by leading local firms, have been shortlisted for the next phase of the process. The post UK lifts 5-year ban on Pakistani airlines after safety reforms appeared first on AeroTime.
The United Kingdom has officially lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, following significant improvements in the country’s…
The post UK lifts 5-year ban on Pakistani airlines after safety reforms appeared first on AeroTime.
