Britain lifts ban on Pakistani airlines after safety improvements

In July 2025, Britain lifted a ban imposed on Pakistani airlines due to improvements in the country's aviation safety standards. This decision came after the UK’s Air Safety Committee had restricted these airlines in June 2020, following serious safety concerns highlighted by Pakistan's aviation minister, which stated that a significant number of pilots in the country had cheated on their licensing exams. The ban was initiated shortly after a tragic plane crash that resulted in 97 fatalities in Karachi, leading to a comprehensive investigation into pilot qualifications. Following the lifting of the ban, the British High Commission emphasized that this decision was influenced by enhanced safety measures undertaken by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, which facilitated individual airlines' applications to resume operations in the UK. It was noted that while previously the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had been the only carrier to operate long-haul routes to Britain, the lifting of the ban could allow other Pakistani airlines to join in accessing the lucrative UK market. The airline had previously suffered significant financial losses due to the ban, estimating an annual revenue loss of approximately 40 billion rupees (around $144 million). The resumption of UK flights was seen as vital for PIA, whose operations had been limited, leading to expectations of reclaiming profitable routes particularly to major cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham. As PIA was in the final stages of planning to resume its flights, a spokesperson confirmed that their initial reopening would include a route from Islamabad to Manchester, aiming for three weekly flights. This recent development aligns with a broader trend of international recognition for the improvements in Pakistan’s aviation sector. Earlier in the same year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had also lifted its own long-standing ban on Pakistani airlines, which had similarly limited PIA's direct flights to Europe. These changes are also concurrent with efforts by the Pakistani government to privatize the airline, hoping that reforms will attract potential buyers amidst its first operating profit in 21 years. Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif welcomed this lifting of the ban, attributing previous setbacks to unfounded statements from former officials that damaged the country’s international aviation reputation.