European Agency to assess Pakistan's progress before lifting flight ban
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is set to hold a meeting
from November 19 to November 21 this year to discuss the potential lifting of
the ban on all Pakistani airlines, including the national flag carrier,
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
According to sources, during this meeting, EASA will assess the progress made
by Pakistani airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in enhancing
aviation safety.
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EASA reviews airlines biannually and, in its last meeting on May 31, it
declined to lift the ban. The ban on PIA and other Pakistani airlines was
initially imposed in June 2020 following a scandal involving the issuance of
fake pilot licenses.
The investigation, triggered by a PIA plane crash in Karachi, uncovered that
a significant number of pilots in Pakistan held fake or dubious licenses,
raising serious concerns about the safety and integrity of flight operations in
the country.
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EASA has expressed concerns about the CAA's ability to effectively oversee
and ensure the safety of airlines operating under its jurisdiction, including
doubts about Pakistan's certification and regulatory processes.
The ban has resulted in significant financial losses for PIA due to the
suspension of key European routes.
Source: Express Tribune