The United Kingdom has officially lifted a five-year ban on Pakistani airlines, paving the way for carriers to resume flights to Britain following substantial improvements in aviation

safety standards.

The restriction, imposed in 2020, followed a major scandal involving fraudulent pilot licenses. At the time, Pakistan's aviation minister revealed that nearly one-third of the country’s pilots had obtained their licenses illegally. This revelation came in the aftermath of a tragic Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crash in Karachi that killed 97 people.

Why now?

The move reflects growing international confidence in Pakistan's aviation reforms. Earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also ended its ban, allowing Pakistani airlines to return to European skies.

According to the British High Commission in Islamabad, the decision followed “extensive engagement” between the UK's Air Safety Committee and Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority. The High Commission noted that the reversal was based on an independent review process focused on safety compliance.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott welcomed the development, thanking aviation experts from both nations for their cooperation. “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,” she said.

Impact on PIA

PIA, the country’s flagship airline, had relied heavily on its UK routes — including London, Manchester, and Birmingham — which were among its most profitable. The ban is estimated to have cost the airline about 40 billion rupees (roughly $144 million) in lost annual revenue.

PIA announced it is preparing to restart services “as soon as possible,” beginning with three weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester, subject to regulatory approval.

The timing of the UK’s decision is also significant as Pakistan pushes forward with plans to privatize PIA, a state-owned airline employing about 7,000 people. Long criticized for inefficiency and mismanagement, the airline hopes restored international routes will increase its valuation ahead of privatization.

Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif highlighted that reopening flights to the UK and Europe would enhance the airline's appeal to investors. He also expressed optimism about the possibility of resuming direct flights to New York.

Founded in 1955 after the nationalization of a private airline, PIA grew rapidly in its early decades but has struggled in recent years due to financial woes and operational issues. Photo by BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada, Wikimedia commons.