LONDON/ISLAMABAD – July 16, 2025 — The United Kingdom has officially removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, ending a five-year ban that barred Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other carriers from operating in UK airspace. The move follows Pakistan’s extensive air safety overhaul and recent audits by UK regulators.
In June 2020, the ban was triggered by the deadly crash of PIA Flight PK8303 near Karachi on May 22, which killed 97 people. An investigation revealed that a large number of Pakistani pilots held dubious or falsified licenses. In response, aviation authorities in the UK, EU and US all grounded Pakistani carriers citing grave safety concerns.
Audits Validate Overhaul of Safety and Security
In early July 2025, a UK Department for Transport audit team conducted on-site inspections at Islamabad International Airport (July 8–10), evaluating screening processes, CCTV coverage, perimeter defenses, emergency responses, drone safety measures, and more. According to local media reports, Pakistani officials said the UK team found the airport’s security arrangements “satisfactory and in line with international standards.”
These security upgrades followed earlier technical audits of pilot licensing, aircraft maintenance, and safety management conducted by UK and EU authorities.
The UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, commended the air safety improvements and tweeted that the UK’s Air Safety Committee has lifted its restrictions on Pakistani carriers after a sustained, independent, and technically driven process.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its four‑year ban on November 29, 2024, reinstating Pakistani carriers—including PIA and Airblue—to the EU’s Third Country Operator list. PIA resumed direct flights to Europe with a twice-weekly Islamabad–Paris route on January 10, 2025.
With Pakistan no longer in the UK air safety list, Pakistani airlines are eligible to apply for operating permits. PIA tweeted that it is all set to resume flights to the UK.
The restoration of UK routes is expected to greatly enhance connectivity for the UK’s Pakistani diaspora of over 1.6 million.
PIA, which recently reported an operational profit for the first time in more than two decades, is undergoing privatisation and stands to benefit significantly from renewed access to key international markets.
Image: Pexels / Jeffry S.S
Read: Emirates EK203: A Quiet Emergency, a Safe Landing, and a Week on the Ground at JFK
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