UK CAA to Remove Pakistani Carriers from Safety List

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has expressed hope that Pakistani carriers will be removed from the UK Air Safety List in the near future, although it will not immediately follow the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift its ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

On November 29, 2024, EASA lifted a four-year suspension on PIA flights to Europe, citing restored confidence in the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority’s (PCAA) oversight. PIA had been banned from operating to the EU and UK in May 2020 after the tragic crash of Flight 8303, an Airbus A320-200 flying from Lahore to Karachi that killed 97 people. This incident raised concerns over the legitimacy of pilots’ licenses issued in Pakistan, including those held by PIA crew members.

In a statement to Aviation Week, the UK CAA emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of air services, particularly between the UK and Pakistan. “While we recognize the importance of these connections for economic and cultural reasons, the circumstances that led to the suspension of services require a rigorous safety case to be demonstrated first,” the CAA said. While the authority supports the restoration of services, it clarified that a comprehensive safety evaluation must be completed before lifting the ban.

The UK CAA has been in discussions with the PCAA, but no specific timeline has been established for when Pakistani carriers might be removed from the UK Air Safety List. Despite this, the authority remains optimistic and indicated that a recommendation to lift the ban could come “in the near future.”

Prior to the suspension, PIA operated seven nonstop routes between Pakistan and the UK, including flights to London Heathrow from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot. It also flew from Lahore and Islamabad to Manchester, and Islamabad to Birmingham. At present, British Airways is the only airline offering a nonstop link between Pakistan and the UK, with flights between London Heathrow and Islamabad, operating twice a week using Boeing 777 aircraft.

While the UK CAA acknowledges the restoration of services is crucial, it continues to prioritize the safety of passengers and flight operations, ensuring the PIA and other Pakistani carriers meet stringent safety standards before resuming operations to the UK.

Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=Pakistan+International+Airlines