Key Takeaways
• PIA enforces annual fasting ban for all pilots and cabin crew during Ramzan for safety.
• Fasting crew are immediately removed from flight duty until the fast ends, regardless of flight location.
• The policy was strengthened after the 2020 Karachi crash, reinforcing medical and religious exemptions.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has kept its ban on fasting for pilots and cabin crew during the Islamic month of Ramzan in 2025, insisting the rule is needed for flight safety. This move comes as the company prepares for major changes, including a planned privatization by June 15, 2025, and keeps up with global trends that stress safe and healthy airline operations. The policy, while strict, is backed by both medical advice and religious exemptions for travelers.
PIA’s Ramadan Ban: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
PIA’s decision affects everyone who works on a flight—both pilots and cabin crew—whether they are flying inside 🍁 Pakistan 🇵🇰 or on routes that go outside the country. The airline’s management says the rule is clear: if you are scheduled to fly, you must not fast during your duty hours throughout Ramzan.
The policy has been in place for several years but was highlighted again in March 2024 when a special PIA circular went out to staff. It’s in force every year, for every flight, to keep everyone on board safe. The reason, according to medical experts, is that flying is a job where full alertness is a must. Fasting can cause problems like dehydration, low blood sugar, tiredness, and slow thinking—all risks that crew in charge of many lives cannot afford.
A recent internal message from the airline set the tone: “Flying while fasting is not only risking your own life but that of others too, in the aircraft and on the ground.”
Safety First: Lessons from a Tragedy
The focus on crew health and alertness grew much stronger after the 2020 Karachi crash of PIA Flight PK8303. This tragedy claimed 97 lives out of 99 on board and shocked the country. In early 2024, an investigation found that mistakes by the crew were partly to blame. The report said that unclear rules about fasting and self-care may have played a part.
Before that crash, neither PIA nor the national aviation regulators had a clear rule about whether pilots or crew should fast while flying. The accident forced a change. Now, there is no confusion—if a pilot or cabin crew member is fasting, they cannot be on duty.
Immediate Changes and Clear Rules
Since the new rule, anyone who is found to be fasting while on duty is immediately taken off the schedule until they confirm they are no longer observing the fast. This is the same for local 🍁 Pakistan 🇵🇰 flights and for international journeys.
Crew are told well in advance each year, with the airline sending reminders in writing since at least March 8, 2024. According to Rule 41(3) of the Civil Aviation Rules, “no crew member shall exercise the privileges of his/her license as a crew member while fasting.” This rule has the full support of national aviation authorities.
A Global Standard: Religion and Work
Many people may wonder: Doesn’t this go against religious traditions? Actually, Islamic teachings allow exemptions for those traveling or involved in heavy work. Airline staff traveling far and working under pressure can make up their missed fasts later, after Ramzan. The company highlights this in its advice to staff each year, making it clear that there’s no penalty for this in their faith.
Enforcement and Staff Response
PIA leadership has repeated their stance in staff meetings and notifications, keeping a close watch to make sure the ban is followed. Since last year, there have been no big signs of pushback from the crews. Staff know that violating the rule means immediate removal from flight duties—and possible further review.
Passengers: What to Expect in Ramzan
For travelers who book flights with PIA during Ramzan, the biggest change is behind the scenes: all crew members are fully alert, since none are fasting on shift. This should help keep journeys as safe as possible, even on long or challenging flights.
If a crew member tells their boss that they wish to fast, they are taken off the flying schedule. This could sometimes mean changes to the flight team, but PIA says this has not disrupted the main flight schedules. The rule covers all flights, so every journey, whether within 🍁 Pakistan 🇵🇰 or abroad, remains under this safety-first system.
Why Is Flight Crew Fasting a Risk?
On paper, fasting involves not eating or drinking anything for hours, from sunrise to sunset during Ramzan. On long-haul international flights or during busy schedules, that can mean crew go for many hours without water or food. Medical advice says this can sharply raise the risk of dehydration, sluggishness, mistakes, and even fainting.
A pilot or cabin crew member who is tired, thirsty, or lightheaded cannot respond quickly to emergencies. In an environment where quick actions and split-second choices can save lives, even a small delay can be serious.
PIA’s medical teams looked at recent research and confirmed these risks. The 2024 update to the policy was based on their advice, pointing to past problems and accidents in 🍁 Pakistan 🇵🇰 and elsewhere.
Financial Struggles and the Drive for Change
PIA’s strict policies are happening as the company deals with serious money troubles. The airline has made big losses for years, with debt payments alone reaching around Rs11.5 billion a month in 2022. Things got tougher in 2023 and 2025, with losses tied to a falling currency and higher costs.
As part of a package to fix these problems, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved privatizing the airline by June 15, 2025. New owners and managers are expected to make the airline safer, more focused, and more reliable. Strict rules like the fasting ban form part of a bigger push—including selling off assets, closing loss-making routes, and possibly reducing the number of staff.
According to VisaVerge.com, this trend matches what is happening with airlines in many other countries, where passenger safety and health are under the spotlight.
What Does the Fasting Ban Mean for Workers?
Current and future PIA employees know they must follow the fasting ban each year during Ramzan. Crew who have strong religious feelings about fasting are allowed to take themselves off the roster, with the assurance that their job or faith won’t be questioned. They just can’t work flights while observing the fast.
Company leaders have said openly that they respect the fasting tradition. Memos sent to staff every year remind them, “Sanctity of fasting is undeniable… However… defined relaxations exist when traveling.”
Anyone who feels unable to comply can talk to human resources for advice, and company rules say they can fast when not on duty or make up these missed fasts later.
Broader Context: Safety, Faith, and Modern Aviation
PIA is one of several large airlines around the world facing tough questions about how to balance crew members’ personal faith with public safety. After well-publicized accidents, regulators almost always act quickly to clear up any confusion. The ban on fasting while flying follows similar steps taken by carriers in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, all of which aim to limit the risks on board.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has published updated rules, available for review on its official website, showing that the approach is not just a company move, but has firm support from national regulators.
A look back shows that the lack of a clear policy before the 2020 crash was a key factor in criticism from the public, accident investigators, and global safety bodies.
Balancing these concerns means airlines must offer clear, fair rules to staff, make sure crews are not put at risk by long hours without food or water, and still keep respect for religious traditions wherever possible.
Key Points and Recap
- The PIA ban on fasting for pilots and cabin crew is in place every year, for all scheduled flights, during Ramzan.
- The rule covers flights inside 🍁 Pakistan 🇵🇰 and all international routes.
- Those who choose to fast are taken off flying duty for the period they are observing the fast.
- The policy is built on medical advice that fasting can cause tiredness, dehydration, and lower alertness—all of which can raise the risk of mistakes in flight.
- The tragedy of the 2020 Karachi crash was a major turning point that led to clear, written rules.
- Company and national authorities back the ban with clear advice, enforcement, and reference to Islamic teachings that allow exemptions for travelers.
- The move fits into wider changes as PIA prepares for possible privatization and aims to win back public trust.
- Employees can get advice through company channels, and passengers can be assured of safety-driven changes during Ramzan.
Controversy or Acceptance?
So far, since the tighter rule came into force in 2024, there have not been big protests or public arguments within the airline. Most staff accept the need for safety and the exemption that religion grants them as travelers, supported by advice from scholars and management alike.
Broader Impact: Passengers, Employees, and the Public
For passengers, especially those flying during Ramzan, these moves mean added peace of mind. They can know that all crew on board are physically and mentally fit to carry out their work at the highest standards. This is especially important for people who may travel long distances or at odd hours during the holiday month.
For PIA staff, the rules give a clear path: faith is respected, but public duty comes first when lives are at stake. Those who wish to observe fasting fully are encouraged to plan ahead and use allowed dispensations under both religious rules and company policy.
For the wider public—and for the government—such steps help show that PIA is working hard to fix mistakes of the past. With privatization on the horizon, these actions may also make the airline more attractive to new investors and passengers alike.
Final Thoughts: The Way Ahead
PIA’s fasting ban for pilots and crew during Ramzan is now one of the clearest and most enforced policies in the region. It is built on lessons from past tragedies, current medical science, and religious understanding. As the airline aims for a safer, stronger future with new private owners, such rules are likely to stay in place—and may even set a model for others.
If you are booking a flight or looking to join PIA, expect these rules to apply every Ramzan. Crew members who want to fast can do so safely—just not while responsible for flights. Passengers can look forward to extra-safe journeys, and all changes are supported by advice from top religious and safety authorities.
Need official details or want to learn more? The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority offers thorough updates, and more insights can be found at VisaVerge.com, which closely follows major immigration and travel policy changes.
In summary, PIA’s fasting ban stays firm, focusing on passenger safety and stronger airline standards as the holy month of Ramadan arrives—showing how faith, law, and modern air travel can fit together when lives depend on it.
Learn Today
Ramzan → The Islamic holy month of fasting, also known as Ramadan, when Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.
PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) → The national airline of Pakistan, state-owned but moving toward privatization by June 15, 2025.
Privatization → The process of transferring ownership and management of a government-run entity to private investors or companies.
Civil Aviation Rules → Regulations set by national authorities governing flight operations, crew conduct, and airline safety standards in Pakistan.
2020 Karachi crash → A major PIA plane accident in May 2020 resulting in 97 fatalities and leading to new aviation safety policies.
This Article in a Nutshell
Pakistan International Airlines continues its ban on fasting for pilots and crew during Ramzan in 2025, prioritizing safety after past tragedies. Supported by both medical guidance and Islamic exemptions, the rule, backed by authorities, ensures all crew remain alert and fit—a sign of ongoing reforms before privatization.
— By VisaVerge.com
