UK Lifts Safety Ban on Pakistani Airlines, Paving Way for Resumption of Flights

 UK Lifts Safety Ban on Pakistani Airlines, Paving Way for Resumption of Flights

Pakistani airlines are now allowed to resume flights to the United Kingdom after a ban imposed over safety concerns was lifted. The move marks a major milestone for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which had been barred from operating in the UK and European Union since 2020.

The UK’s Air Safety Committee announced the decision on Wednesday, stating that the restrictions on Pakistani carriers have been removed following improvements in air safety standards. However, individual airlines will still need to apply for operating permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

The original ban followed a deadly PIA plane crash in 2020 and a subsequent scandal involving the licensing of Pakistani pilots, which raised international concerns about aviation oversight in the country. While the European Union lifted its ban last year, allowing PIA to resume operations there in January, UK authorities had maintained their restrictions until now.

According to the British High Commission in Islamabad, the UK’s independent aviation safety process determined that Pakistan and its airlines had made the necessary improvements since the original decision in 2021.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott expressed appreciation for the collaboration between UK and Pakistani aviation experts, saying she looked forward to traveling on a Pakistani carrier once flights resume.

With more than 1.6 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK, and thousands of British nationals in Pakistan, the lifting of the ban is expected to make travel and family reunions easier. It may also benefit the two countries' economic ties—bilateral trade currently stands at £4.7 billion, making the UK Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner.

The development comes at a crucial time for Pakistan, as the government moves ahead with plans to privatize PIA. Although earlier efforts failed due to lack of interest from potential buyers, authorities have shortlisted at least four parties in a renewed push to sell the national carrier.