UK Delays PIA Flight Resumption Over Safety
The UK’s Department of Transport is holding back on granting Pakistan International Airlines the necessary permissions to resume flights to UK airports, citing ongoing safety concerns despite the airline receiving clearance to return to EU destinations in November 2024. PIA’s resumption of European services was marked by a historic flight on January 10, 2025, when one of its Boeing 777s operated a scheduled service from Islamabad to Paris. However, since that inaugural return to Europe, the UK authorities have maintained a cautious stance, delaying permission for PIA to operate flights into London, Manchester, and possibly Birmingham, largely due to recent incidents that have raised serious questions about the airline’s operational safety.
The safety concerns stem primarily from two separate incidents in early 2025 that have put a spotlight on PIA’s adherence to safety protocols. On January 17, 2025, a PIA Airbus A320 operating flight PK150 from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Multan, Pakistan, was diverted when it mistakenly landed on a closed runway at Lahore Airport. While the aircraft landed safely, it did so on runway 36L instead of the active runway 36R, which was fully illuminated with the appropriate approach and edge lights. The parallel runway, 36L, had its lighting completely switched off, a glaring oversight that prompted immediate concern over the airline’s safety procedures. Then, on March 12, 2025, another incident occurred when flight PK306, operated by a different Airbus A320 on a route from Karachi to Lahore, landed with a missing main gear tire. The tire was later found near the boundary of Karachi Airport after detaching during takeoff. Both of these events have contributed to a growing skepticism regarding PIA’s ability to meet the stringent safety standards expected by international aviation regulators.
The UK Department of Transport’s safety team revisited Pakistan in February 2025 to compile an assessment report on whether to allow PIA to resume operations into the UK. Sources indicate that the team requires additional time—approximately 40 to 50 days—to thoroughly evaluate various factors including updated safety protocols, procedural improvements, and a comprehensive analysis of PIA’s recent operational data. The final report is expected to be submitted to the British Air Safety Committee in May or June 2025, with a decision to follow soon after. This cautious approach reflects the UK’s long-standing concerns over PIA’s safety record, especially following the suspension of all Pakistan-based airlines in 2020 amid revelations of pilots operating with falsified licenses, a ban that coincided with similar restrictions imposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Although EASA lifted its ban at the end of 2024, the UK remains vigilant.
PIA has expressed its desire to resume direct flights to serve the large Pakistani diaspora in the UK, emphasizing that these routes are critical for connecting families and supporting business travel. However, until the Department of Transport is satisfied that PIA’s safety standards have been adequately addressed, permission to operate from UK airports will remain on hold. As the review continues, industry watchers are closely monitoring the situation, aware that the outcome of the UK’s evaluation could have significant implications for PIA’s future international operations and the broader landscape of aviation safety and regulatory oversight.
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