Islamabad: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume flights to Europe, UK and US as the airline has claimed to get security clearance for these routes.
According to reports, the European aviation regulator has lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines flights to Europe after more than four years, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif said. Flights are expected to resume in January, 2025.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) banned the national carrier from Europe over dubious pilot licences in 2020 after PIA’s flight from Lahore crashed near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, killing around 100 people.
Following the incident, the European and UK authorities banned PIA from their territories, which were the airline’s most profitable routes.
A number of foreign airlines also grounded Pakistani-origin pilots of Pakistani origin in the wake of allegations that the PIA pilots obtained fake 'flying licences'.
Ban lifted
The ban has now been lifted after PIA “demonstrated to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency compliance” safety standards, the regulator said in a statement on Friday.
In addition to Europe, PIA is eyeing a resumption of flights to New York after permission from the United States. Six Boeing 777 aircraft are earmarked for operations to Europe, the UK, and the US as part of the national carrier's efforts to re-establish its global network.
Airblue flights to Europe
The agency has also granted the ‘third country operator (TCO) authorisation to Airblue, allowing the private airline to start commercial flights to Europe, Dawn news reported.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and EASA has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote in a post on X.
In response to Dawn’s query, Janet Northcote, the Easa spokesperson said the removal of PIA’s ban and the permission to Airblue came after the agency “re-established sufficient confidence in the PCAA oversight capabilities”. She said PIA and Airlbue can perform air transport operations to and from the EU.
PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat has congratulated the aviation ministry, PCAA and the airline’s management. "Pakistanis can now once again travel directly to European destinations using their national flag carrier," he added.