Diplomatic efforts on to restore Europe flights

FM speaks with EU official, seeks reversal of Europe ban on national carrier

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday spoke with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell seeking the reversal of the six-month ban on Pakistan International Airline (PIA) from operating in Europe.

The European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) suspended PIA’s authorisation to operate in EU member states from July 1 in the wake of the grounding of 262 Pakistani pilots whose licences were termed “dubious” by “Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan. The EU aviation safety watchdog said it was concerned about the validity of the Pakistani pilot licences following the minister’s statement.

In his telephonic conversation with Borrell, Qureshi conveyed his concerns over EASA’s decision to suspend PIA flights to Europe. He assured the EU official that steps being taken by the government were aimed at ensuring the highest level of flight safety in PIA operations. He added that the national carrier remained committed to maintaining the highest standards and quality in its air operations. The minister stressed the need for the EASA to review its decision.

Following the EASA’s move, the UK Civil Aviation Authority also said it was withdrawing PIA’s permit to operate from three of its airports. “PIA flights from Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester airports are suspended with immediate effect,” a spokesperson for the authority told Reuters. The three were major flying destinations for the airline.

However, the PIA later announced that Europe and UK and granted it landing permission from July 1 to July 3. The national carrier has also been allowed overflying over European airspace. According to APP, the airline said it would be able to operate flights four days a week to bring back Pakistanis stranded in Europe and UK. It added that the EASA ban would only restrict it from flying to three destinations -- Oslo, Milan and Paris. The PIA will file an appeal against the decision next week. A PIA spokesperson said the airlines’s flights to and from Islamabad to London, PK785 and PK 786, would operate as per schedule.

After the aviation minister’s statement, the UAE is also seeking to verify the credentials of the Pakistani pilots and engineers employed in its airlines.

UAE General Civil Aviation Authority Director General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi requested the verification of the credentials of Pakistani pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and flight operations officers working in the Middle Eastern country in a June 29 letter to Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Director General Hassan Nasir Jamy.

"We would like to request your good offices to verify the licensing credentials of the attached list of pilots who are currently holding UAE's pilots licences based on licences and qualifications issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority," the letter read.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA), the union for PIA's pilots, alleged that the announcement of the "dubious" licence holders was a planned government move against the pilots to cut their headcount.

"The malicious efforts of some at the helm of affairs with a mindset to cut the pilots down to size have resulted in PIA being reduced to an airline on paper," the union said.

The PALPA rejected the government's list of pilots with licences deemed dubious, and pointed out that it was full of discrepancies, demanding a judicial investigation.

The 262 pilots – 109 commercial and 153 airline transport pilots – were grounded on June 26, pending conclusion of inquiries against them. They included 141 from PIA, nine from Air Blue, 10 from Serene Airline, and 17 from Shaheen Airlines, which has closed down.

After the aviation minister’s revelation, international airlines have also initiated investigations against Pakistani employees.

The head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has ordered a suspension for all Pakistani pilots working for Vietnamese airlines.

Qatar Airways and Oman Air have also compiled lists of Pakistani pilots, engineers and ground-handling staff.

(With input from Reuters)