UK Lifts Ban on PIA
Pakistani Airlines Cleared to Resume Flights to UK After Safety Ban Lifted
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani airlines have been cleared to apply for operational clearance from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) after being removed from the United Kingdom’s aviation safety list. The announcement marks a breakthrough following a year-long ban imposed due to concerns over pilot licensing irregularities raised during the PTI government’s tenure.
The UK High Commission in Islamabad confirmed the decision, stating that the removal was the result of a “technical and independent process.” The British High Commissioner to Pakistan praised the collaboration between the UK and Pakistani aviation authorities, saying, “I look forward to flying with a Pakistani airline.”
The ban had been enforced after revelations of “fake degrees” and unverified licenses among Pakistani pilots surfaced in 2020. This led to international restrictions, including the suspension of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe and the UK.
The British High Commission also emphasized that improved air connectivity will help reunite families, strengthen people-to-people ties, and boost the economic partnership between the two countries. The UK is currently Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner in the region, with bilateral trade reaching £4.7 billion annually.
This development follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision in November 2024 to lift its ban on PIA, paving the way for the airline’s full return to European and UK airspace.
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