PM Shehbaz hails lifting of PIA flight ban by European authorities

Premier praises the efforts of aviation officials and the civil aviation authority in achieving this milestone.

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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed his approval regarding the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) decision to lift the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the aviation ministry, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), and the PIA management for their efforts in securing the lifting of the ban.

The Prime Minister emphasizsed that this move would enhance PIA’s global standing and bring significant financial benefits. He also highlighted that this decision would provide greater ease for Pakistanis residing in Europe, facilitating their air travel.

The lifting of the ban, Prime Minister noted, is a testament to the success of Pakistan's aviation policies.

PIA gets all clear to resume Europe flights

After nearly four and a half years and a loss of approximately Rs450 billion, the country's aviation authority on Friday finally managed to convince European regulators that Pakistani airlines, including the national carrier, PIA, meet their safety standards and should be permitted to resume operations to destinations in the European Union (EU).

On June 30, 2020, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) imposed a six-month temporary ban on all Pakistani airlines after a government investigation launched in the wake of a PIA plane crash in Karachi revealed that licenses of 262 Pakistani pilots were fake.

EASA, however, did not lift the ban after six months, a suspension of authorization that resulted in a loss of approximately Rs400 billion to PIA and Rs50 billion to other Pakistani airlines.

This month—from November 19 to 21—the European Commission chaired a three-day meeting of the European Air Safety Committee in Brussels to deliberate over a number of matters including resumption of flights by Pakistani airlines to the EU.

The committee also reviewed the safety oversight measures implemented by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and EASA briefed the meeting on a PCAA's report.

Citing sources, a news report published in The Express Tribune on November 22 stated that EASA was likely to announce its decision on Pakistani airlines on December 6.