On July 16, 2025, the United Kingdom officially removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, a move that now allows Pakistani airlines—including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)—to apply for permits to resume flights to the UK.
The decision marks the end of a five-year ban that was first imposed in June 2020, following the PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people. The tragedy also exposed widespread pilot license irregularities, prompting global aviation authorities to blacklist Pakistani carriers.
But after years of reforms, the UK’s Air Safety Committee has now declared that Pakistan’s aviation safety measures meet international standards. This conclusion came after a recent inspection by the UK Department for Transport at Islamabad International Airport, which found the country’s security arrangements to be “satisfactory and in line with international benchmarks.”
While airlines will still need to apply for individual operational permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the ban removal paves the way for the return of direct flights between Pakistan and the UK.
British High Commissioner Jane Marriott welcomed the progress, saying, “While it will take time for flights to resume, once the logistics are in place, I look forward to using a Pakistani carrier when visiting family and friends.”
The news was also celebrated by Pakistan’s Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif, who credited three years of hard work and called the lifting of the ban a “milestone”. He criticized past leadership for damaging the country’s aviation credibility but said today’s decision was a testament to reform and recovery.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also hailed the announcement, emphasizing its significance for the 1.6 million Pakistanis living in the UK and for UK-Pakistan trade, which is valued at over £4.7 billion annually.
The lifting of the UK ban comes just months after the European Union lifted its own restrictions on PIA, reinforcing global confidence in Pakistan’s aviation overhaul. It also aligns with Pakistan’s plans to privatize PIA, potentially boosting its valuation and market competitiveness.
On social media, posts on X showed an outpouring of excitement and relief from diaspora communities and frequent travelers, with many calling the decision “long overdue.”
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 16th, 2025
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