ISLAMABAD – In a major development for Pakistan’s aviation sector, European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the suspension on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe.
This much waited decision comes amid rigorous efforts of Pakistan’s Ministry of Aviation to improve safety standards in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements, the country’s defence minister Khawaja Asif said.
The measures taken include strengthening the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the enactment of the PCAA Act, and a clear separation between regulatory and service provider functions. Additionally, professional leadership has been appointed, and capacity-building initiatives, including staff training, have been carried out to enhance operational safety.
The successful lifting of the flight suspension for PIA and the granting of TCO authorization to Airblue are seen as milestones in Pakistan’s efforts to improve aviation safety and regain international credibility. Aviation Ministry expressed its gratitude to the European Commission and EASA for their transparent evaluation process, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring aviation safety in the country.
This positive development is expected to not only bolster the reputation of Pakistan’s aviation sector but also open up new opportunities for both PIA and Airblue to expand their operations in Europe.
PIA Ban Update
Restriction on Pakistan national flag carrier dates back to 2007, when European Union partially banned PIA from operating certain flights to EU nations citing safety concerns, specifically regarding the airline’s Boeing 747 aircraft.
The ban was lifted in 2009 after PIA addressed these issues. In June 2020, EASA suspended PIA’s authorization to fly to Europe due to a scandal involving fraudulent pilot licenses in Pakistan, which led to global flight suspensions for PIA.
Previous and current governments made major restructuring to help airline getting sigh of relief.
