BRUSSELS: An important development has been made with regard to the resumption
of PIA flights in Europe as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has
cleared the national flag carrier in a remote audit.
The PIA was audited online by EASA a few months back. The European Union Aviation
Safety Agency will come to Pakistan in September to conduct a physical audit of the
national airline and Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. After the success of the final audit,
the PIA flights to Europe will be restored.
The PIA has been banned from flying to European countries since June 2020 following
revelations of fake pilot degrees. The EASA ban was soon followed by similar action by
the UK and US aviation authorities.
Later, the EASA had extended travel restrictions imposed on the national carrier for an
indefinite period. The PIA will earn billions of rupees after the resumption of its flights to
Europe.
A delegation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will visit Pakistan in
September this year to review a ban on Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights to
Europe.
EASA is responsible for ensuring safety and environmental protection in air transport in
Europe. The EASA delegation will undertake a physical audit of PIA as well as the Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA). Successfully clearing the audit could lead to a reversal of the
ban on PIA flights to European Union, say sources.
Earlier, as was reported by Holiday Weekly, Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique
said that Pakistan International Airlines is likely to resume flights to Britain in the next
three months.
