Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will remain banned from operating flights to and from the United Kingdom, as confirmed by the UK Department for Transport (DfT). This announcement extinguished recent optimism about the resumption of services after a four-year suspension. According to a DfT spokesperson, any airline seeking to lift such restrictions must undergo a rigorous procedure, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority is in touch with Pakistani authorities regarding the matter.
The ban on PIA stems from safety concerns, with the UK Air Safety List explicitly barring all air carriers certified by Pakistan’s regulatory authorities from operating commercial flights to, from, or within the UK. This ongoing restriction was first imposed in July 2020 following a major scandal in Pakistan, where it was revealed that many pilots were flying with fake licenses.
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The suspension followed a tragic PIA Airbus A-320 crash in Karachi that claimed nearly 100 lives, leading to bans not only in the UK but also in the European Union and the United States. This resulted in significant financial losses for the already struggling airline, with an estimated annual revenue loss of Rs40 billion ($144 million).
While the UK ban continues, PIA managed a small achievement in January 2025 by resuming direct flights to Europe with a service from Islamabad to Paris. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan expressed hopes that once the UK ban is lifted, key destinations such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be the first to be reinstated.
