ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): In a major development for Pakistan’s aviation sector, the United Kingdom has officially removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List, paving the way for Pakistani airlines to resume flight operations to the UK after more than four years.
The decision was announced on Wednesday by the UK’s Air Safety Committee, which had placed Pakistan on the Air Safety List in 2021 due to concerns over safety standards and regulatory oversight. Now, with Pakistan off the list, its airlines can begin applying for necessary approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate flights once again.
Though Pakistani carriers can now apply to operate flights to the UK, each airline will still need to secure the necessary permits from the UK Civil Aviation Authority through a separate application process.
The removal from the Air Safety List comes after continued cooperation between Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority and UK regulators, who acknowledged the technical improvements and progress made in addressing previous concerns. According to British officials, the removal reflects trust in Pakistan’s updated safety systems and aviation practices.
The decision is expected to ease travel for over 1.6 million people of Pakistani heritage living in the UK and thousands of British nationals in Pakistan. It may also support increased bilateral trade, which currently stands at £4.7 billion, making the UK Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner.
The UK’s Air Safety Committee made the decision through an independent, technically-driven safety review process, which found that Pakistan had made the required safety upgrades.
“I’m grateful to aviation experts in the UK and Pakistan for their collaborative work to drive improvements to meet international safety standards. 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,” said British High Commissioner Jane Marriott.
While the removal from the Air Safety List is a key step forward, Pakistani airlines will still need to undergo the usual licensing procedures and meet UK CAA standards before flights can resume. This process may take some time, but the path is now clear.
