The suspension of direct flights, including those of the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), dates back to 2020

A team of inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US civil aviation authority, is in Pakistan for an important review of the country’s civil aviation system. The audit, which began today, 8 September 2025, represents a fundamental and long-awaited step toward the possible reopening of direct air links between Pakistan and the United States, suspended now for five years.

The FAA mission, which will continue until 12 September, aims to assess the current compliance of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with international safety standards. The American experts are closely examining several aspects, including pilot licensing procedures, safety oversight and the country’s overall capacity to maintain high operational standards over the long term.

The suspension of direct flights, including those of the flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), dates back to 2020. The decision was taken after an investigation revealed serious irregularities and forged pilot licenses, a scandal that not only halted flights to the US, but also led to flight bans in Europe and the United Kingdom and resulted in a downgrade of Pakistan’s global aviation safety rating.

Since then the Pakistani CAA has launched an ambitious reform program to restore international confidence. Measures adopted include strengthening pilot examination protocols and aligning procedures with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

A positive outcome of this FAA inspection would not, however, guarantee an immediate lifting of the ban, but would nonetheless signal an important step forward. In that case, PIA could finally regain access to key markets such as New York, Washington, DC and Chicago, reviving its international standing and restoring the credibility of Pakistan’s aviation sector.