Airbus A340-600 aircraft flying
For airlines and regulators, safety is paramount (Picture: Getty)

In the aviation industry, safety and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable. Airlines must adhere to rigorous safety and protocols to ensure the well-being of passengers and crew. 

However, when some fail to meet these standards, they are banned from operating in specific regions, including the United Kingdom.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, airlines are banned from operating in European airspace (including the UK) ‘because they are found to be unsafe and/or they are not sufficiently overseen by their authorities’.

And because these restrictions are designed to maintain safety, controversy often follows when they are rolled back.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which is not permitted to operate in UK airspace, last week resumed direct flights to Paris after a four-year ban from EU airspace. The relaunch sparked outrage due to the airline’s promotional tweet, which featured a graphic of a plane flying toward the Eiffel Tower with the caption: ‘Paris, we’re coming for you.’

Hundreds have criticized the tweet as ‘tone-deaf’, with many drawing comparisons to PIA’s 1970s advertisement that depicted a Boeing 747 casting its shadow on the Twin Towers, years before they were destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

Pakistan International Airlines PARIS
People are outraged at PIA’s new promotional poster (Picture: X/Official_PIA)

‘Is this an advertisement or a threat?’ one user questioned, while another remarked: ‘You can’t be serious this time! Fire your designer.’

PIA has been banned from UK Airspace since 2020, following the crash of Flight 8303 in Karachi, Pakistan. However, it isn’t the only banned carrier in the country. 

BoyleSports has now delved into the published records of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to compile a comprehensive list of airlines currently prohibited from flying to, from, and within UK airspace.

Read on for the full list of airlines currently banned from the UK.

Afghanistan 

All air carriers certified by Afghan authorities are barred from the UK airspace. This includes, but is not limited to: Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air.

Angola

Most Angolian airlines are banned, except for a few including TAAG Angola Airlines and Heli Malongo. Banned carriers include: 

  • Aerojet
  • Air Jet
  • Bestfly Aircraft
  • Guicango
  • Heliang
  • SJL

Armenia

All Armenian carriers are prohibited in the UK. Notable airlines include:

  • Aircompany Armenia
  • Armenia Airways
  • Armenia Helicopters
  • Atlantis Armenian Airlines
  • Atlantis European Airways
  • Mars Avia
The aircraft flying on clouds.
Airlines are banned from UK airspace if they are deemed ‘unsafe’ (Picture: Getty)

Congo (Brazzaville)

All Congolese airlines are banned, including:

  • Canadian Airways Congo
  • Equaflight Services
  • Equajet
  • Société Nouvelle Air Congo
  • Trans Air Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Every airline from the DRC is banned from the UK, including:

  • Air Fast Congo
  • Air Katanga
  • Busy Bee Congo
  • Compagnie Africaine D’Aviation (CAA)
  • Congo Airways
  • Kin Avia
  • Malu Aviation
  • Mwant Jet
  • Swala Aviation

Djibouti

Daallo Airlines is the only airline from Djibouti on the banned list.

Equatorial Guinea

All carriers from Equatorial Guinea are banned, including:

  • Ceiba Intercontinental
  • Cronos Airlines

Eritrea

No Eritrean airlines are allowed in the UK, including:

  • Eritrean Airlines
  • Nasair Eritrea

Iran

While Iran Aseman Airlines is banned, Iran Air is permitted with certain aircraft restrictions.

Iraq

Iraqi Airways is banned from operating in the UK.

PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320 airplane at Dubai Airport in the United Arab Emirates
PIA has been banned from the UK Airspace since 2020 (Picture: Getty)

Kyrgyzstan

All Kyrgyz airlines are prohibited from operating in the UK, including:

  • Air Company Air KG
  • Air Manas
  • Avia Traffic Company
  • Sky KG Airlines
  • Tez Jet

Liberia

All airlines certified in Liberia are banned from the UK.

Libya

All Libyan airlines are prohibited, including:

  • Afriqiyah Airways
  • Air Libya
  • Al Maha Aviation
  • Buraq Air
  • Global Aviation and Services
  • Libyan Airlines
  • Libyan Wings Airlines
  • Petro Air

Nepal

Every Nepali airline is barred from the UK; carriers include but are not limited to the following:

  • Altitude Air
  • Buddha Air
  • Fishtail Air
  • Guna Airlines
  • Himalaya Airlines
  • Makalu Air
  • Nepal Airlines Corporation
  • Simrik Air
  • Sita Air
  • Tara Air
  • Yeti Airlines

North Korea

Air Koryo is permitted to operate only specific aircraft in the UK, with all others banned.

Pakistan

All Pakistani carriers are banned from operating in the UK, including:

  • Airblue Limited
  • AirSial
  • Pakistan International Airlines

Russian Federation

A significant number of Russian airlines are banned. Here are the various carriers included on the list:

  • Airbridgecargo Airlines
  • Aircompany’s North-West, Sirius-Aero and Sky Gates Airlines
  • Atran
  • Azur Air
  • Erofey
  • Gazpromavia
  • Joint Stock Company’s Air Company Yakutia, Alrosa Air Company, Azimuth Airlines, Iraero Airlines, Jet Air Group, Nordstar Airlines, Red Wings, Royal Flight Airlines, Rusjet, Siberia Airlines, Smartavia Airlines, The 224-th Flight Unit State Airlines, Ural Airlines, and UVT Aero
  • JS Aviation Company Rusline
  • JSC Yamal Airlines
  • LLC Aircompany Ikar
  • Meridian Air Company
  • Pobeda Airlines
  • Rossiya Airlines
  • Russian Airlines Aeroflot
  • Severstal Aircompany
  • Tulpar Air
  • UTair Aviation

São Tomé and Príncipe

All airlines from São Tomé and Príncipe are banned, including:

  • Africa’s Connection
  • STP Airways

Sierra Leone

No airlines from Sierra Leone are allowed to operate in the UK.

Sudan

All Sudanese airlines are banned, such as:

  • Alfa Airlines SD
  • Badr Airlines
  • Blue Bird Aviation
  • Eldinder Aviation
  • Green Flag Aviation
  • Helejetic Air
  • Kush Aviation
  • Nova Airways
  • Sudan Airways
  • Sun Air
  • Tarco Air

Suriname

Blue Wing Airlines is banned from operating in the UK.

Venezuela

Avior Airlines is the only Venezuelan airline banned from the UK.

Zimbabwe

Air Zimbabwe Pvt is banned from operating in the UK.

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