Upcoming visit of EC and EASA raises hopes for lifting of ban on
PIA flights to Europe
The European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
are set to visit Pakistan next week, according to the agency's spokesperson,
raising optimism for the potential lifting of the ban on Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe.
The ban was imposed following a PIA air crash in Karachi in May
2020 and subsequent revelations of a fake license scandal.
British
Department for Transport to visit Pakistan for restoration of flights
The ban, initially connected to statements by Pakistan's former
aviation minister alleging fraudulent flying permits, was extended indefinitely
by EASA. The upcoming visit by a four-member European delegation aims to
conduct an on-site assessment of PIA, a crucial step outlined in the safety
protocol of the European Commission and the aviation agency.
The delegation's focus on evaluating the safety measures of the
Civil Aviation Authority and PIA was confirmed by an anonymous Pakistan Civil
Aviation Authority (PCAA) official. In January of the previous year, EASA had
declined to lift the ban, citing concerns raised by the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding significant degradation in PCAA
certification and oversight capabilities.
New
timeline announced for resumption of flights from Pakistan to Europe
Despite the financial challenges faced by PIA, leading to
widespread flight suspensions and increased privatization efforts by the
interim administration, constructive discussions between EASA and Pakistani
civil aviation officials have been ongoing since July of the same year. The
visit by the European delegation holds promise for a potential resolution to
the flight ban issue.
Source: https://www.arabnews.pk/