The warning issued in 2014 by the Direction Générale de L'aviation Civile has had no effect on air traffic. PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI: Planes flying over Pakistan's airspace have not altered their flight paths based on the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) precautionary advisory, said Prime Minister's Aviation Advisor Shujaat Azeem on Friday.
The warning, which was originally issued last year by the Direction Générale de L'aviation Civile (DGAC)-France, has had no effect on the air traffic, he told The Express Tribune.
"I have spoken to both European and French authorities and their mission representative here; it was a routine matter, and not an advisory specifically related to us," he said.
Azeem's comments came after an EASA advisory dated January 22 warned air carriers against flying below 24,000 feet when cruising over Pakistan.
Since a Malaysian-registered aircraft was shot down over Ukraine in July 2014, authorities have been releasing warnings for conflict zones such as Syria, Ukraine and Iraq, added Azeem. Planes flying over Iraq and Pakistan have come under small arms fire in recent months putting both, air crafts and passengers on board, at risk. However, these attacks have taken place on planes as they flew low while landing.
"No airline has changed its flight path. There has been no drop in air traffic."
RELATED POST: Fearing terrorist attacks: European airlines warned of conflict zone risks
The EASA warning had followed a more stern warning by DGAC-France.
Every day around 1,200 planes fly over Pakistani air space at different altitudes and routes.
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it has not restricted airlines from any specific altitude due to safety concerns.
"Therefore, issuance of any such guidance by any authority or doubt on the safety of Pakistan air space is, therefore, absolutely baseless," it said.
A number of European airlines don’t fly to Pakistan anymore. British Airways and Germany's Lufthansa were the last carriers to pull out, mostly due to their internal financial constraints and focus on more lucrative routes.
COMMENTS (7)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Wait and find no sense in someone who wants you to avert the foreseen. No issues, slip in slumber until really a plane is shot over Pakistan. Mr. Aziz we remember your word and keep it in archive for the day when it happens.
They have. They did something better. They stopped coming here.
Every precaution that West takes is an Insult to us? We must acknowledge that Pakistan is a conflict zone. Even after Gen Raheel and PM Nawaz Sharif have taken the highest precautions under National Action Plan, we saw terrorist bombing in Shikarpur,yesterday. So if EU talks of avoiding Pakistan airspace then we must take action to make the airspace safe instead of taking it as an Insult.
"Baseless warning"! This statement in-itself perfectly defines the incompetent mindset of Pakistani ruling elite which ignores all indications of an impending disaster until it actually occurs!
After which there are press conferences, joint investigation committees and commissions and monetary incentives for the affected!
Baseless warning? Didn't Pakistan launch a major military offensive because TTP was targeting local aircraft/airports?
Most foreign flights transiting Pakistan don't land therefore they are already at or above the recommended altitude so there is no reason to alter flight plans. Further it's just a precautionary recommendation based on the obvious conflict taking place in Pakistan - this guy sounds like it was a personal insult.
Those who kill young children at a school and bomb praying innocent citizen will some day shoot down a high profile plane. It's just a matter of time, the way I see it.