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The PIA Flight Ban in the UK is to remain in place, as confirmed by the United Kingdom Department for Transport (DfT). This decision ends speculation about an immediate return after nearly four years.
A DfT spokesperson explained that airlines must complete a strict approval process before the PIA Flight Ban in the UK is lifted. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is working with Pakistani authorities on this matter.
The UK Air Safety List includes airlines banned from operating in the country due to safety concerns. According to the UK government’s website, all Pakistani carriers will remain restricted from running commercial flights to, from and within the UK.
Recent reports suggested that the British Air Safety Committee considered lifting the ban, raising hopes in Pakistan. However, UK officials clarified that PIA still does not meet the required safety standards.
Read more: Missing PIA Plane Wheel Found at Karachi Airport
The ban was first imposed in July 2020 by both the UK and European aviation regulators. This decision came after a scandal revealed that dozens of Pakistani pilots were flying with fake licenses. The then-aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, exposed this after a tragic PIA Airbus A-320 crash in Karachi.
The scandal caused a PIA Flight Ban in the UK, the European Union and the United States. It also resulted in financial losses of around Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually for the already struggling airline.
Despite the UK ban, PIA achieved a small breakthrough in January 2025 by resuming direct flights to Europe, starting with a flight from Islamabad to Paris.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan expressed optimism, stating that once the UK authorities approve flights, London, Manchester and Birmingham will be among the first destinations PIA aims to serve.
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