• Khawaja Asif says ministry to apply for licences to restore routes, efforts underway to revive New York flights
• Minister says development will boost PIA’s value ahead of privatisation; PM hails ‘milestone’
• PIA spox says operations expected to resume on August 14 with three weekly flights to Manchester

RAWALPINDI: After more than five years, Pakistan has finally been removed from the air safety list by the United Kingdom, allowing Pakistani airlines to operate flights to the UK — a move hailed by Pakistani officials and widely welcomed by the diaspora, who expressed both excitement and hopes for improved service.

In 2020, Britain imposed restrictions on Pakistani airlines and barred them from operating flights to the UK due to safety concerns, prompted by a statement made by the then-aviation minister about the credibility of Pakistani pilots.

However, years of technical engagement and collaboration between the UK and Pakistan’s aviation authorities managed to address these concerns, paving the way for the PIA and other airlines’ entry to the UK. In a similar development earlier this year, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency lifted its five-year ban, allowing Pakistan to resume direct flights to the continent.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the lifting of the ban as “an important milestone for the country”. “The lifting of the ban on Pakistani flights by the UK is a source of relief for Pakistanis residing in Britain,” he added in a statement.

While this announcement does not mean an immediate resumption of direct flights by Pakistani carriers, it does allow them to apply for operating permits through the UK Civil Aviation Authority — a process expected to unfold over the coming months.

Speaking to DawnNewsTV, a PIA spokesperson said that the national flag carrier expected to resume flight operations to UK on Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14.

In an earlier statement, the spokesperson said that the PIA was now finalising plans to resume flights “in the shortest possible time”, beginning with three weekly flights from Islamabad to Manchester, and a schedule was being filed in this regard.

Meanwhile, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif told a press conference that the resumption of all routes would improve PIA’s value ahead of its planned privatisation by the government.

He said that the aviation ministry would now apply for licences to restore routes to the United Kingdom and the government was also making efforts to resume New York flights.

The minister hailed the removal of Pakistani airlines from UK’s Air Safety list, but stressed the need for fixing responsibility for the loss caused to the national carrier due to these restrictions. He criticised the PTI government for the fiasco and reputational damage caused to the PIA, which he called a “crime against state”.

He pinned the blame on former prime minister Imran Khan and then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who had given a damaging statement in the National Assembly after the 2020 crash regarding the pilots’ licences.

This statement was made after one of PIA’s aircraft plunged into a Karachi street, killing nearly 100 people. The disaster was attributed to human error by the pilots and air traffic control, and was followed by allegations that nearly a third of the licences for its pilots were “fake” or “dubious”.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement, said that it was pleased to announce that the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport, through the UK’s Air Safety Committee, removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List.

“The United Kingdom is home to one of the largest Pakistani diaspora, and is among Pakistan’s top trade and travel partners. This step will further facilitate people-to-people connectivity, enhance commercial ties, and promote tourism and investment between the two nations,” the statement said.

It said the development reflected the growing confidence of the international community in Pakistan’s commitment to the implementation of ICAO safety standards.

Separately, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott welcomed the development, expressing appreciation for the technical experts from both nations who contributed to the reforms. “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 in a statement.

‘Great news’

Following the news, social media buzzed with reactions from overseas Pakistanis. “Great news for the Pakistani diaspora: easier travel, fewer headaches, and major savings,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Another wrote, “My next visit will be direct to Pakistan via PIA…but I hope PIA maintains international flight standards.” Others urged the airline to focus on customer experience, calling for “good and variety in food, repairing of aircraft seats’ poshish, entertainment screens, and cleanliness — at least on the international routes.”

The PIA, which employs almost 7,000 people, has long been accused of being bloated and poorly run — hobbled by unpaid bills, a poor safety record and regulatory issues. The government has said it is committed to privatising the debt-ridden airline and has been scrambling to find a buyer.

In 2024, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price. PIA came into being in 1955 when the government nationalised a loss-making commercial airline, and enjoyed rapid growth until the 1990s.

Atika Rehman in London also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2025