Islamabad, July 16, 2025: In a major breakthrough for Pakistan’s aviation sector, the United Kingdom has officially removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, paving the way for Pakistani airlines—including the national flag carrier, PIA—to apply for resuming direct flights to the UK.
The decision, announced on Wednesday by the UK Air Safety Committee, comes after years of technical cooperation between the UK authorities and Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), and a comprehensive review of the country’s aviation safety standards.
The UK and European aviation regulators had imposed the ban in July 2020, following a scandal involving fake pilot licences. The controversy emerged when then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, publicly admitted that a significant number of pilots in Pakistan were flying with dubious credentials. His statement came in the wake of the May 2020 PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi that claimed nearly 100 lives.
While removal from the Air Safety List marks a critical milestone, Pakistani carriers must still obtain individual operating permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority before they can restart flights.
In a statement, the British High Commission in Islamabad said the move would ease travel for the estimated 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK and strengthen bilateral trade ties. The UK is currently Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, with annual bilateral trade reaching £4.7 billion.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, welcomed the development and praised aviation experts on both sides for their sustained efforts. “While flights won’t resume overnight, I look forward to flying with a Pakistani airline once services restart,” she said.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), historically the only Pakistani carrier to operate long-haul routes to Europe and the UK, is now working to resume services. According to the airline’s spokesperson, preparations are underway to restart flights “in the shortest possible time,” starting with three weekly flights on the Islamabad–Manchester route, pending regulatory approval.
The UK’s decision follows the European Union’s move earlier this year to lift its own restrictions on PIA and other Pakistani carriers. PIA resumed its first direct flight to Paris from Islamabad in January 2025 after a years-long suspension.
The national airline had previously reported annual revenue losses of approximately Rs40 billion (around $144 million) due to the ban, with UK destinations—including London, Manchester, and Birmingham—being among its most profitable. PIA also holds valuable landing slots at London’s Heathrow Airport, which may now become active once again.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif described the UK’s decision as a “major milestone” and a result of three years of consistent efforts under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership.
At a press conference in Islamabad, Asif criticised former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan for his “irresponsible” remarks, which he said brought international disrepute to Pakistan’s aviation industry. He also acknowledged the efforts of former minister Khawaja Saad Rafique for following up the matter diligently.
“The inclusion in the Air Safety List was a national embarrassment. Today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, we have crossed an important threshold,” he stated, adding that the federal cabinet would consider actions against those responsible for past lapses.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also welcomed the decision, calling it a significant step forward for the aviation sector. In a post on social media platform X, he expressed gratitude for the restoration of UK flight operations and credited the move to his administration’s efforts to restore the credibility of Pakistani institutions.
He criticised the previous administration for damaging Pakistan’s reputation, citing “reckless and irresponsible statements” that led to the grounding of flights on major international routes.
The prime minister thanked Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Asif, and aviation stakeholders for their roles in achieving this breakthrough. “Job well done,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to privatise PIA have gained momentum. Earlier this month, four groups were cleared to bid for a 51-100% stake in the airline. Final bids are expected later this year. The government hopes that recent structural reforms—resulting in PIA’s first operating profit in 21 years—will make it a more attractive asset for potential investors, as part of a broader IMF-backed privatisation program.
