Karachi: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) remains banned from operating flights to and from the United Kingdom, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed. The announcement ends hopes of an immediate resumption after a four-year suspension.
No Clearance for PIA Yet
A DfT spokesperson stated that airlines must undergo a rigorous process before restrictions are lifted. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) remains in contact with Pakistani authorities regarding the issue.
The UK Air Safety List includes countries and airlines deemed unfit for commercial operations within the UK due to safety concerns. The official UK government website states that all Pakistani-certified air carriers are currently banned from operating commercial flights to, from, and within the UK.
Ban Stays Despite Earlier Optimism
This decision follows recent reports suggesting that the British Air Safety Committee had discussed lifting the ban, sparking optimism among Pakistani officials.
However, the suspension, initially imposed in July 2020, remains in effect. UK and European aviation authorities banned PIA after revelations that dozens of Pakistani pilots held fake licences.
Scandal and Financial Fallout
The controversy emerged after then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan admitted to the issue in the aftermath of a PIA Airbus A-320 crash in Karachi, which killed nearly 100 people.
The scandal triggered bans in the UK, European Union, and the United States, costing PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue.
PIAās Recent European Comeback
Despite the UK ban, PIA achieved a small breakthrough in January 2025 by resuming direct flights to Europe with a route from Islamabad to Paris.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan expressed the airlineās aspirations, stating that once cleared, London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be top destinations for resumed UK operations.
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