The UK’s Air Safety Committee is scheduled to hold a significant meeting on Thursday, March 20, to deliberate on the five-year ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other Pakistani carriers. The ban, which has been in place since July 2020, was imposed following a scandal involving fake pilot licences, raising serious concerns about aviation safety in Pakistan.
During the meeting, the committee will assess the possibility of lifting the ban on Pakistani airlines, which have been barred from operating in the UK and Europe for nearly half a decade. Sources reveal that the discussion will focus on the progress made by Pakistan’s aviation authorities to rectify the issues that led to the restrictions.
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Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) officials are hopeful for a favourable decision. “With the recent reopening of flights to Europe, we are optimistic that the UK will follow suit and approve the resumption of Pakistani airline operations,” stated a CAA representative. The decision would provide a much-needed boost to Pakistan’s aviation industry, which has been severely impacted by the ban.
If the UK committee rules in favour of lifting the ban, Pakistani airlines may soon be allowed to operate flights to British airports once again, potentially marking a pivotal moment for the country’s aviation recovery.
