UK to decide on lifting ban on Pakistani airlines tomorrow

The UK’s Air Safety Committee is set to hold a crucial meeting on Thursday, March 20, to review the five-year ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other Pakistani carriers.

The decision could determine whether Pakistani airlines will be allowed to resume operations in the UK after being barred since July 2020.

The ban was initially imposed following the fake pilot licence scandal, which raised serious concerns over aviation safety standards in Pakistan. As a result, both the UK and European Union suspended PIA’s operations, dealing a severe blow to the country’s aviation industry.

However, the EU has already lifted the ban and the PIA has started its direct operations to the main European destinations.

Sources indicate that the committee will assess Pakistan’s aviation reforms and determine whether the country’s airlines now meet international safety standards.

Officials from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are hopeful for a positive outcome. “With the recent resumption of flights to Europe, we hope that the UK will also approve the restoration of Pakistani airlines,” a CAA official stated.

If the ban is lifted, Pakistani airlines could soon resume flights to British airports, restoring direct travel options for thousands of passengers.