The European Commission announced in a statement that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has declined to revoke its prohibition on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from conducting flights to Europe, citing the national carrier’s noncompliance with its safety regulations.
According to an EASA representative, PIA continues to not effectively comply with safety regulations. It was imperative that Pakistani airlines take corrective action in order to lift the ban.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked the national flag carrier’s permission to fly to the bloc in the wake of a pilot licence controversy that shook the nation, leading to the suspension of PIA flights to Europe and the UK starting in 2020.
Following a plane catastrophe in May 2020 that claimed almost a hundred lives, a fake degree issue led to the grounding of 262 out of 860 Pakistani pilots, including 141 out of 434 PIA pilots.
“According to a spokesman for the European Commission, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency believes that there is currently no justification for changing the list of airlines that are prohibited from operating within the Union with regard to airlines that hold certification in Pakistan.”
In contrast to PIA CEO Muhammad Amir Hayat’s comments last month, in which he expressed optimism that the PIA would restart flights to Europe, including two weekly flights to Paris, in June or July, the spokesman further stated that the position of Pakistani air carriers will stay unchanged.
According to the commission, on November 27–30, 2023, EU specialists carried out an on-site examination in Pakistan.
According to the report, “it was discovered that PCAA is staffed by technically skilled and professional persons, and has an established policy to adhere to international safety standards.” However, widespread flaws in the organisation were noted, including the emphasis placed on non-conformities and the absence of internal verifications.
According to the report, Pakistan’s Flight Standards Directorate lacked the necessary number of trained employees to carry out all certification and safety oversight responsibilities, making it “severely understaffed.” It went on, “The assignment of tasks that do not necessarily fall within the remit of Flight Standards aggravates this situation.”
In accordance with IMF regulations, Pakistan’s government plans to privatise the national airline, which has been experiencing financial difficulties for the past few years, by June or July.
Earlier, Pakistan had chosen six eligible businesses to submit bids to purchase the PIA, according to Privatisation Minister Aleem Khan. Air Blue, Arif Habib Corporation, Blue World City, Fly Jinnah, Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Consortiums, and YB Holdings Consortiums were among the companies involved.
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