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**KARACHI:** Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has released a statement clarifying the current status of its ability to operate flights to the UK, amid conflicting reports, ARY News reported.
A PIA spokesperson stated that the UK Department for Transport (DfT) has *not* made a final decision regarding the resumption of PIA flights to the UK. The spokesperson emphasized that the DfT has neither issued an official statement nor sent any formal communication on the matter.
PIA maintains that all relevant Pakistani aviation authorities are in close and coordinated contact with the UK DfT. The airline urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation. Furthermore, PIA expressed optimism about resuming UK flights, stating that it has met all the targets identified during the DfT audit.
However, contrasting reports are circulating. Some media outlets are reporting that PIA remains on the UK’s air safety list, effectively banning the airline (and other carriers certified by Pakistani authorities) from operating commercial services to, from, and within the UK.
The UK government website explicitly lists, “All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Pakistan are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom. Carriers include but are not limited to the following: Airblue Limited, AirSial, Pakistan International Airlines, SereneAir Private Ltd., Vision Air International (Private) Ltd.”
This clarification comes shortly after previous reports indicated that a UK DfT audit of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan was nearing completion, a crucial step towards potentially reinstating UK flight operations.
It is also worth noting that, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted its ban on PIA in November 2024.