The European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for flights to Europe.
In 2020, a tragic PIA plane crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people and led to the revelation of a fake pilot license scandal. In response, EASA banned the airline from its most lucrative routes in Europe and Britain.
The ban reduced the airline’s annual revenue by nearly Rs40 billion. Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Ali Pervaiz Malik, told the National Assembly in June that the European Commission Air Safety Commission had cleared Pakistan from its list of concerns as of May 14, signalling a positive development.
یورپی ائیر سیفٹی ایجنسی(ایاسا) کی جانب سے پاکستانی ائیرلائنز پر پابندی اٹھانے کا فیصلہ. ایاسا نے اپنے مکتوب میں وزرات ہوابازی اور پی ائی اے انتظامیہ کو باضابطہ آگاہ کردیا. پی ائی اے انتظامیہ نے گزشتہ 4 سال کی انتھک محنت کے بعد یہ اہم سنگ میل عبور کیا
— PIA (@Official_PIA) November 29, 2024In March, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif anticipated that PIA flights to the UK would soon restart following EASA’s clearance expected by mid-May, based on discussions with relevant authorities.
In a recent post on X, Asif declared, “It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and EASA have lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe.” He also noted that Airblue received Third Country Operator authorization.
Asif credited this advancement to the aviation ministry’s rigorous efforts to enhance the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and ensure safety oversight in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
“Our government has taken significant measures to strengthen PCAA, including the enactment of the PCAA Act, smooth segregation of regulator and service providers, the appointment of professional leadership, and training to build capacity,” Asif elaborated.
Lifting of Suspension on Pakistani Airlines
Issuance of Third Country Operator (TCO) Authorization to PIA and Airblue
It is a momentous day to announce that European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe. Not…
— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) November 29, 2024He thanked the European Commission and EASA for their transparent process and reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to maintaining aviation safety. Speaking to Geo News, Asif celebrated the decision as a “great success,” acknowledging that Pakistani civil aviation bodies had worked diligently to meet European standards through multiple audits and compliance over the past three years.
Asif expressed optimism about the ban’s positive impact and shared his hope that similar UK operations restrictions would soon be lifted. He added that other airlines, including FlyJinnah, were currently undergoing the audit process.
When questioned about the timeline for resuming flights to Europe, Asif stated, “We hope to resume operations as quickly as possible. I cannot give you an exact day, but now it is just a matter of time.”
