Pakistani airlines hope flights to Europe will resume soon
In 2020, a scandal involving fraudulent pilot licenses led to a ban on all
Pakistani airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), operating
in European airspace and the UK. Now, as the aviation sector in Pakistan seeks
to recover, the resumption of flights to Europe is back on the agenda.
A key meeting of the European Aviation Safety Committee (EASC) is set to
take place in Brussels on November 19, 2024, where officials will discuss the
potential reinstatement of Pakistani airlines in European skies. The meeting
will bring together repre
sentatives from the European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA), aviation authorities from various European countries, and a
delegation from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Sources say that Pakistan’s CAA has developed a comprehensive plan for the
restoration of airline operations in Europe, which aims to address the concerns
that led to the original ban. The proposal, detailing the safety measures and
regulatory updates taken by Pakistan, will be presented to European authorities
during the meeting.
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More Pakistan
actively seeking to reinstate PIA flights to UK
In July 2020, a scandal erupted when it was revealed that hundreds of pilots
in Pakistan were operating with fraudulent licenses. This discovery led to a
blanket ban on Pakistani airlines in Europe and the UK. Since then, Pakistan
has worked to resolve the issues and regain international trust in its aviation
sector.
In September 2024, the CAA officially notified EASA that it had met all the
conditions necessary for the resumption of flights. The authority requested
permission for PIA, the country’s national carrier, to resume its services to
the European Union and the UK.
According to reports, multiple online technical sessions have taken place
between CAA and EASA officials, where the CAA team briefed European
counterparts on the measures taken to improve aviation safety in Pakistan. The
CAA emphasized that it has now fulfilled all EASA requirements and urged the
agency to grant approval for the immediate return of Pakistani airlines to
European airspace.
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More PIA
to resume flights to Türkiye this month
Sources also suggest that the Pakistani government is keen to see PIA's
flights to Europe and the UK resume before the airline’s ongoing privatization
process is completed.
As discussions continue, the aviation world will be watching closely to see
if this marks the first step in restoring Pakistan’s airline industry to its
former international standing.
Source: Express Tribune