UK lifts years-long ban on Pakistani airlines after safety probe into pilot licence scandal

Pakistani airlines, including the state-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), can now resume flights to the United Kingdom, following a dramatic reversal of a years-long ban imposed in the wake of a damning pilot licence scandal. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that Pakistan has officially been removed from the Air Safety List, opening the door for Pakistani carriers to re-enter British airspace, pending final operational approvals.

The decision comes after a comprehensive and independent safety review conducted by the UK’s Air Safety Committee, which evaluated Pakistan’s aviation systems in detail. Investigators found that the country’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had taken substantial steps to overhaul safety procedures, rebuild oversight structures, and regain the trust of international regulators.

The ban was originally imposed in 2020 after the global aviation community was rocked by revelations that hundreds of Pakistani pilots were operating with fraudulent or dubious licences. The scandal drew international outrage and prompted immediate bans from multiple countries, including the UK and EU, forcing PIA to suspend its Europe-bound operations indefinitely.

Since then, Pakistan’s CAA has faced intense scrutiny and international pressure to clean up its regulatory practices. The UK’s evaluation focused heavily on reforms, compliance, and the establishment of credible oversight mechanisms—areas where Pakistan had previously failed disastrously. It was only after these improvements were verified through technical audits that the UK finally agreed to lift the restrictions.

The British High Commission in Islamabad confirmed the news on Tuesday, stating that while Pakistan’s removal from the safety list is a significant milestone, airlines must still obtain operational approvals from UK authorities before flights can resume. That means PIA and others must prove they meet all UK safety and operational regulations—even after being cleared from the blacklist.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott hailed the development as a breakthrough for both countries. “The resumption of flights will reunite families, deepen trade links, and build stronger ties between our nations,” she said. She added that enhanced air connectivity would boost people-to-people contact, a cornerstone of the UK-Pakistan relationship.

Direct flights will resume only after compliance checks, but Pakistani airlines can now begin applying for landing rights at major UK airports such as London Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham. For the Pakistani diaspora in Britain—among the largest in Europe—this move is seen as a long-overdue restoration of travel routes that serve not just personal and family needs, but also economic and cultural exchange.

The UK remains Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing £4.7 billion annually. Officials hope the reinstatement of air links will revitalise trade, tourism, and investment flows at a crucial time for Pakistan’s struggling economy.

The Air Safety List, maintained by the UK government, identifies carriers that fail to meet international aviation standards. It is revised periodically through impartial assessments, free from political interference. Pakistan’s re-inclusion on the safe list marks a rare and notable turnaround for a country once considered a high-risk aviation zone.

High Commissioner Marriott also praised the cooperative efforts between aviation regulators in both countries. “I look forward to flying with a Pakistani airline soon,” she said.

Still, the ghosts of 2020 linger. The licence fraud scandal, which implicated hundreds of pilots and exposed systemic failures in Pakistan’s aviation sector, remains a stark reminder of what led to the grounding in the first place. Today’s announcement, however, signals cautious optimism for a new era of trust and cooperation.