EASA to review Pakistan flight ban in November

KARACHI:

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will hold a meeting in November this year to discuss lifting the ban on all Pakistani airlines including the national flag carrier, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

According to sources, EASA’s meeting regarding Pakistani airlines will take place from November 19 to November 21 during which the agency will evaluate the progress made by Pakistani airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) with regard to aviation safety.

The agency reviews airlines every six months. In its last meeting held on May 31, EASA had refused to lift the ban. EASA imposed a ban on the PIA and other Pakistani airlines in June 2020 in view of a scandal regarding issuance of fake pilot licenses.

In the wake of a PIA plane crash in Karachi, the CAA had launched an investigation that revealed that a significant number of pilots in Pakistan were holding fake or dubious licenses. This scandal raised serious concerns about the safety and integrity of flight operations in the country.

EASA cited concerns over the ability of the CAA to adequately oversee and ensure the safety of airlines operating under its jurisdiction.

This included doubts about the certification and regulation processes within Pakistan’s aviation sector.

It later banned the PIA’s flight operations to and within European Union member states. The ban led to significant financial losses for the PIA due to the loss of key European routes.