The United Kingdom (UK) has announced the lifting of the flight ban on Pakistani airlines after several years.
As per details, the Air Safety Committee of the UK has lifted the five-year ban on Pakistan’s national airline and other carriers. The ban was enforced in July 2020 by the UK and European aviation authorities following the fake pilot licence scandal.
The British High Commission said on Wednesday that Pakistani airlines can now apply for flights to the UK. According to the British High Commission, airlines will have to obtain permission from the UKCAA for flights.
The British High Commission further said that the removal from the safety list was carried out through an independent and technical process.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott has stated that she is looking forward to traveling with a Pakistani airline, as improving air connectivity with Pakistan will help in family reunions.
It may be recalled that after the accident that occurred in Karachi of a PIA plane in May 2020, the then Aviation Minister had told Parliament that one-third of Pakistan’s commercial pilots had bogus degrees, after which a ban was imposed on Pakistani flights to the UK and Europe in June 2020.