Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will remain banned from flying to and from the United Kingdom, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed on Tuesday, dashing hopes of an imminent return after a four-year hiatus.
A spokesperson for the department said, “Airlines must go through a rigorous procedure to have restrictions lifted,” adding that the UK Civil Aviation Authority was in contact with Pakistani authorities regarding the issue.
The UK Air Safety List includes countries and airlines that are not permitted to operate commercial flights within the UK due to safety concerns.
As per the official UK government website, “All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Pakistan are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom.”
This update comes just days after reports suggested that the British Air Safety Committee had discussed lifting the ban, which had raised hopes among Pakistani authorities.
The ban was initially enforced in July 2020 by both UK and European aviation authorities after a major scandal revealed that dozens of Pakistani pilots were operating with fake licences.
The then-aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, admitted to the issue following the tragic crash of a PIA Airbus A-320 in Karachi, which claimed nearly 100 lives.
The fallout from the scandal resulted in bans across the UK, European Union, and United States, costing the loss-making airline approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue.
Despite the ongoing ban in the UK, PIA marked a small milestone in January 2025 by resuming direct flights to Europe with a flight from Islamabad to Paris.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan shared the airline’s aspirations, saying that once cleared by the DfT, “London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be the most sought-after destinations.”
Meanwhile, the government has decided to move forward with a fast-tracked plan to privatise PIA, Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Tuesday. The issue of PIA’s privatisation was discussed during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in Islamabad.
According to the APP, “Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) on Tuesday approved a fast-tracked plan for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIACL), including the divestment of 51-100 per cent share capital together with management control.”
The report further stated, “The deputy PM emphasised the government’s commitment to PIACL’s privatisation to unlock its full potential and reduce financial burden on the national exchequer.”
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