BRUSSELS: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is expected to lift restrictions on the flight operations of Pakistani aircraft, including those of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), on European routes in the coming months.
According to a Report, a meeting of the EASA’s safety board is scheduled for May 2024. The future of PIA will reportedly be a central topic of discussion during the meeting.
The sources, according to reports, further added that PIA has submitted the relevant documents to the EASA regarding this issue. Meanwhile, the final report is expected to be presented during the EASA’s safety board meeting in May.
The European Safety Agency will include the audit reports of both PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the agenda for the upcoming meeting, the reports added.
A spokesperson for the CAA expressed optimism, citing promising progress in the ongoing discussions. It should be recalled that in June 2020, EASA suspended PIA’s flight operations for Europe in June 2020 after the most controversial statement of the than aviation minister Sarwar Khan who said that PIA Pilots have fake degrees.
In a letter to the national flag carrier, the EASA stated that it had revoked the Third Country Operator (TCO) Authorization for PIA after the airline failed to adhere to the proposed corrective action plans.
The EASA added that six findings were raised with PIA officials during meetings in June and September 2019. The national flag carrier successfully implemented five of the action plans. However, one regarding element of a Safety Management System remained unimplemented.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is anticipated to remove restrictions on Pakistani aircraft, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), for European routes, reliable sources revealed.
A crucial meeting of EASA’s safety board, scheduled for May 2024, will focus on the future of PIA, with documents submitted by PIA already under review.
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The meeting agenda will include audit reports from PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
While definitive statements are premature, a spokesperson from the CAA expressed optimism, citing positive progress in ongoing discussions.
