Pakistan International Airlines Resumes UK Flights After Five-Year Ban

PIA Returns to UK Skies After Five-Year Hiatus

State-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officially resumed direct flight operations to the United Kingdom on Saturday, October 25, 2025, marking the end of a five-year ban. The suspension, initially imposed in June 2020, stemmed from a widespread fake pilot license scandal and subsequent safety concerns. The resumption follows rigorous safety audits and significant reforms within Pakistan's aviation sector.

The Genesis of the Ban: Fake Licenses and Safety Concerns

The ban originated in June 2020 when the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) suspended PIA's authorization to operate in their respective airspaces. This decision followed a tragic PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi in May 2020, which claimed the lives of nearly 100 people. Subsequent revelations by then-Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan indicated that a significant number of Pakistani pilots, including 141 from PIA, held 'dubious' or fake licenses. The ban led to substantial financial losses for PIA, estimated at approximately $144 million (PKR 40 billion) annually.

Path to Reinstatement: Audits and Reforms

The journey to lifting the ban involved extensive efforts and reforms. The EASA first lifted its ban in November 2024, after conducting thorough safety audits and expressing renewed confidence in the oversight capabilities of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). This allowed PIA to resume flights to other European destinations, such as Paris in January 2025. The United Kingdom followed suit, lifting its restrictions on Pakistani carriers in July 2025, after concluding that Pakistan's aviation safety standards were 'satisfactory and in line with international norms'. The UK CAA subsequently issued a Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit to PIA. These improvements included a comprehensive overhaul of pilot training, licensing procedures, aircraft maintenance, and safety protocols.

First Flight and Future Plans

The inaugural flight, a Boeing 777 carrying 284 passengers, departed from Islamabad International Airport bound for Manchester. A ceremony at the airport marked the occasion, attended by dignitaries including Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif and British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott. Defence Minister Asif stated that the resumption of flights was 'a remarkable beginning' and essential for the more than 1.4 million Pakistanis residing in Britain and Europe. Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Mohammad Faisal, also highlighted the economic and cultural benefits of the renewed air link. Initially, PIA will operate two weekly flights between Islamabad and Manchester, with plans to gradually expand services to other major UK cities, including London and Birmingham.