By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will remain grounded in the United Kingdom, with the Department for Transport confirming on Tuesday that the national carrier stays on the nation’s air safety list.
The decision dashes recent optimism that a ban, in place since July 2020, might soon be lifted, underscoring persistent safety concerns tied to a scandal over fake pilot licenses that has plagued the airline for years.
In a statement, a Department for Transport spokesperson highlighted the stringent standards required for reinstatement: “Airlines must go through a rigorous procedure to have restrictions lifted.”
The UK Civil Aviation Authority continues dialogue with Pakistani officials, though no timeline for resolution has emerged.
The air safety list, maintained by the UK government, bans all air carriers certified by Pakistan’s regulatory authorities from operating commercial services to, from, or within the UK, a restriction mirrored across the European Union and, until recently, parts of the United States.
The announcement follows reports last week that the British Air Safety Committee had concluded a key meeting, fueling speculation of an imminent reprieve. Pakistani authorities had pinned hopes on a review scheduled for Wednesday, but the Department for Transport’s confirmation signals that PIA’s return to British skies remains elusive.
The UK’s ban traces back to July 2020, when a devastating crash of a PIA Airbus A-320 in Karachi killed nearly 100 people. In the aftermath, Pakistan’s then-aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, stunned the industry by revealing that numerous pilots held fraudulent licenses.
The admission triggered swift action: the UK, EU, and US imposed flight bans, sidelining PIA from lucrative Western markets and deepening its financial woes. The debt-laden airline, already grappling with operational inefficiencies, has lost an estimated Rs40 billion ($144 million) in annual revenue as a result.
Aviation analysts said the Karachi crash exposed systemic failures that regulators couldn’t ignore and rebuilding credibility with international authorities has proven far tougher than PIA anticipated.
PIA has shown signs of recovery elsewhere. In January 2025, the airline resumed direct flights from Islamabad to Paris after a years-long hiatus, marking its return to European airspace following the EU’s partial lifting of restrictions.
PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan pointed to the UK as the next frontier, noting that clearance from the Department for Transport would pave the way for operations to London, Manchester, and Birmingham—cities with significant Pakistani diaspora and high travel demand.
“We’re optimistic,” Khan last week said. “These routes are critical for our growth, and we’re working closely with regulators to meet their standards.”
Yet the UK’s rigorous process suggests a longer wait. The Department for Transport’s emphasis on a “rigorous procedure” reflects lingering doubts about PIA’s safety overhaul, despite progress acknowledged by European authorities.
Market Pressures Mount
PIA’s struggles extend beyond regulatory hurdles. With a 34-plane fleet, the airline commands a 23 percent share of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market but faces fierce competition from Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, which dominate with a combined 60 percent share. PIA’s lack of direct flights to key destinations—despite bilateral agreements with 87 countries and valuable landing slots—has eroded its edge, analysts say.
The airline’s annual revenue loss of $144 million underscores the stakes. Once a symbol of national pride, PIA now contends with mounting debt and a reputation battered by years of mismanagement and scandal.
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