Pakistan looking to resumption of US flights
A team from the US Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) is set to visit Pakistan in March to assess the
feasibility of resuming direct flights between the two countries. Sources
confirm that Pakistan has already submitted the required $75,000 assessment fee
for the evaluation process.
Direct flights between Pakistan and the US were
suspended in 2017. Efforts to reinstate them have been delayed by the COVID-19
pandemic and the 2020 PIA crash in Karachi. The situation worsened further when
the European Union imposed a ban on PIA, leading to a downgrade of Pakistan’s
aviation safety rating by the FAA.
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International Airlines (PIA) aims to relaunch New York flights with Boeing 777
fleet
During the pandemic, Pakistan was allowed to
operate limited humanitarian flights, with seven completed. To align with US
aviation standards, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Civil
Aviation Authority of Pakistan have implemented various reforms.
The FAA's five-member team will carry out an
initial review, but the final decision will also depend on clearance from the
US Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
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Airlines hopeful of resumption of flights to Europe, US
If restrictions are
lifted, PIA plans to resume direct flights to major US cities, including New
York, Chicago, and Houston. Previously, PIA serviced US routes through
Manchester, but the focus now is on launching non-stop services.
Source: Pro Pakistani