ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Friday that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after four years.
The minister also appreciated all relevant officials for working hard to deliver this breakthrough.
The Pakistani flights were banned in 2020 after 97 people were killed by an airplane accident in Karachi, followed by a former aviation minister’s assertion that around 40 percent of local pilots held “dubious” licences. The statement raised serious global concerns regarding the safety oversight, and thus caused PIA’s European operations to be grounded.
PIA’s European operations were closed down, adding to the financial mess of the already bankrupt national carrier that incurred losses as it staggered to its feet towards a reputation recovery. The government could not privatize the airline the IMF condition insisted upon after recently held loan negotiations due to the airline’s precarious financial situation.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote on social media.
The decision also gave Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization to another Pakistani airline, Airblue-another milestone in aviation development, he announced.
This TCO authorization by EASA will enable non-European airlines to operate their commercial flights into, within, or out of the European airspace.
Airblue, Pakistan’s second-largest airline that operates domestic and regional air routes, is also expected to tap European operations as a result of this TCO approval.
PIA expressed its satisfaction regarding the development by saying that the lifting of the TCO ban stands proof of its adherence to the highest international standards in safety and operations.
