UK lifts years-long ban on Pakistani airlines

• PIA, other airlines can now apply for flight permits.

• Move is expected to ease travel for 1.6 million people.
• British HC says she looks forward to flying Pakistani carrier.
  

ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the United Kingdom has removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, allowing national airline and other carriers to once again apply for permission to operate direct flights to the Britain.

The decision, announced on Wednesday by the UK’s Air Safety Committee, follows sustained technical cooperation with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and a thorough review of aviation safety standards.

The ban was enforced in July 2020 by the UK and European aviation authorities following the fake pilot licence scandal.

In 2020, during Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) government, then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan claimed that pilots were operating planes with fake licences. This was his response after PIA's Airbus A-320s crashed in Karachi, killing nearly 100 people.

Although the removal from the list marks a significant milestone, Pakistani carriers will still need to secure individual operating permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority before flights can resume.

The move is expected to ease travel for the estimated 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK, as well as support trade ties between the two countries, read a statement released by the British High Commission.

Bilateral trade between both countries currently stands at £4.7 billion, with the UK ranked as Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, it said.

Pakistan was first added to the UK’s Air Safety List in 2021 over serious safety concerns. Since then, officials on both sides have worked together to address the shortcomings, the statement added.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott welcomed the removal of the ban on Pakistani airlines.

“I’m grateful to aviation experts in the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to meet international safety standards.

“While flights won’t resume overnight, I look forward to flying with a Pakistani airline once services restart,” she added.

While several private Pakistani airlines operate domestically and on regional routes, primarily to the Middle East, PIA has historically been the only carrier to operate long-haul flights to Britain and the European Union.

PIA had previously estimated an annual revenue loss of around 40 billion rupees ($144 million) due to the ban. The airline has long considered UK routes, including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, among its most profitable, and holds sought-after landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport that could become active again.

The development came months after the European Union (EU) lifted the ban on PIA and other operators from flying to different European destinations.

Following the removal of the ban, PIA operated its first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris this year in January.

'Major milestone'

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif hailed the UK's decision to remove Pakistan from its Air Safety List as a "major milestone", crediting the move to three years of sustained efforts under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the defence minister, said the development opens up new opportunities for Pakistan’s aviation industry.

Calling the inclusion in the Air Safety List a “national embarrassment”, Asif lashed out at former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan for his statement, which led to international flight bans on Pakistani airlines.

“Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan has crossed an important threshold,” Asif said. He also praised former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for consistently following up the case over the past three years.

The aviation minister further said that the federal cabinet would decide on any action against those responsible for past failures and reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring the national airline's global reputation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to lift its air safety ban on Pakistan, calling the move a major step forward for the aviation sector.

In a post on social media platform X, the prime minister expressed gratitude for the restoration of flight operations, saying the decision would allow PIA to resume services to the UK after a suspension of several years.

The prime minister blamed the previous administration for damaging Pakistan’s reputation, saying “reckless and irresponsible statements” had grounded the national airline from key global routes.

Highlighting the significance of the move, the premier said it would benefit more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK, as well as thousands of British nationals residing in Pakistan.

He extended his appreciation to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, aviation authorities, and all stakeholders for their role in achieving the milestone.

“Job well done,” he said.

PIA's spokesperson said the airline was finalising preparations to resume UK flights "in the shortest possible time" and had submitted its proposed schedule.

Flights would resume with the Islamabad-Manchester route, with three weekly flights planned initially pending schedule approval, the spokesperson added.

Earlier this month, Pakistan approved four groups to bid for a 51-100% stake in PIA. Final bids are expected later this year.

The government is hoping that recent reforms, which led to the airline's first operating profit in 21 years – will help attract buyers under a broader IMF-backed privatisation push.