The UK Air Safety Committee officially removed Pakistan and its airline carriers from the UK Air Safety List on July 16, 2025, lifting a five-year ban imposed in 2020 due to safety concerns. This decision allows Pakistani carriers, including PIA and Airblue, to resume direct flights to the UK following, improved security and safety standards.
For 2026, the top 3 safest airlines are Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas, according to Airline Ratings. The EU Air Safety List, which bans unsafe carriers from European skies, includes over 100 airlines, mainly due to poor oversight in17 specific countries. Major bans include all Russian-certified airlines, along with specific carriers from Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela.
Top 25 Safest Airlines for 2026 (Airline Ratings)
Key EU Air Safety List (ASL) Restrictions
As of late 2025, the European Commission has banned or restricted 169 airlines from operating in the EU.
Courtesy by: transport.ec.europa.eu, Airline Ratings
