No timeline given for lifting ban on Pakistan International Airlines; UK says safety review still ongoing as Pakistan eyes privatisation of struggling carrier
Karachi [Pakistan], March 26: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will continue to be barred from flying to and from the United Kingdom, the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) confirmed on Tuesday, ending speculation that the four-year ban might soon be lifted, according to The Express Tribune.
A spokesperson from the DfT stated that any changes to the current restriction would only come after a comprehensive safety review. While the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is reportedly in contact with Pakistani officials, no timeline has been set for reconsidering the ban.
“All airlines certified by Pakistan’s aviation authority remain on the UK Air Safety List,” said the DfT. “This means they are prohibited from operating commercial services to, from, or within British airspace.”
The ban was originally imposed in July 2020, following the shocking revelation that hundreds of Pakistani pilots held dubious or fake licences. This came to light after a PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people. Then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan admitted to the scandal, triggering flight bans from both the UK and EU, as well as the United States.
The loss of international routes has reportedly cost PIA more than Rs 40 billion (USD 144 million) annually.
Despite the ongoing restrictions, PIA resumed some operations in Europe earlier this year, launching direct flights from Islamabad to Paris in January 2025. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said that London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be top destinations once UK permissions are restored.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s government is moving forward with a fast-track privatisation plan for the national carrier. The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, has approved selling 51% to 100% of PIA’s shares—including management control.
“Privatisation is a key step toward reducing financial losses and unlocking PIA’s full potential,” Dar said during the CCOP meeting, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Until then, PIA’s return to UK airspace remains uncertain.
Tags: Pakistan International Airlines, UK flight ban, PIA UK flights, aviation safety, fake pilot licenses, DfT, CAA, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Ishaq Dar, PIA privatisation, Karachi crash, UK Air Safety List, European Union, aviation news
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