UK team inspects PIA's flight operations
A delegation from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) is currently in
Pakistan to assess aviation safety standards. On Friday, the team held a
meeting with the management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at the
airline’s headquarters.
During their visit, the UK team inspected PIA's flight operations, safety
protocols, and engineering practices. The successful completion of their
evaluation is expected to pave the way for Pakistani airlines to resume direct
flights to the UK, lifting a long-standing restriction on UK-bound routes.
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A spokesperson from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that the UK
delegation arrived four days ago to review Pakistan's aviation safety
standards. They were welcomed by CAA Director General Nadir Shafi Dar and the
heads of various departments. This evaluation follows months of preparatory
talks between Pakistani and British aviation authorities.
The CAA is optimistic about the outcome of the visit, noting that extensive
efforts have been made to meet international aviation safety requirements.
In November 2024, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted the ban
on PIA operating in the EU, which had been imposed in 2020 following a plane
crash and a pilots’ license scandal. With the EU ban lifted, PIA resumed
flights to European destinations.
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actively seeking to reinstate PIA flights to UK
Now, the airline is eager to expand its services to the UK, with plans to
launch flights from Islamabad and Lahore to London, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Source: Dawn