London – March 24, 2025 — The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport confirmed on Tuesday that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will continue to remain on the UK’s Air Safety List, extending the ban on the carrier’s commercial operations to and from the country.
A spokesperson for the department stated that while the UK Civil Aviation Authority is actively engaging with Pakistani officials, any decision to lift restrictions involves a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation. “Airlines must undergo a stringent process before restrictions can be lifted,” the official noted.
The UK Air Safety List identifies airlines and countries that fall short of international safety standards, restricting their access to British airspace. As of now, all airlines certified in Pakistan remain prohibited from conducting commercial flights within or into the United Kingdom.
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The update comes shortly after media reports hinted at the possibility of the long-standing ban being lifted. A recent meeting by the British Air Safety Committee raised hopes that PIA’s operations might soon be reinstated, but the official stance suggests otherwise — at least for now.
The ban on PIA was first imposed in July 2020, following a major aviation scandal involving fraudulent pilot licenses. Then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan revealed that several pilots employed by Pakistani airlines, including PIA, were flying with dubious credentials. This disclosure came in the aftermath of the PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi, which claimed nearly 100 lives.
In response, both UK and European Union aviation regulators, along with U.S. authorities, moved to suspend PIA’s operations, citing serious concerns over aviation safety and regulatory oversight in Pakistan.
The restriction has severely impacted the airline’s international footprint and financial stability, with estimated annual losses of Rs40 billion ($144 million) due to suspended operations in key Western markets.
However, there has been some progress. In January 2025, PIA resumed its long-awaited European service with a direct flight from Islamabad to Paris, signaling cautious optimism around future reinstatement in other regions.
Despite the setback in the UK, Pakistani authorities remain hopeful that continued dialogue and regulatory improvements will eventually pave the way for a full return to global skies.
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