EASA Confirms Continued Ban on PIA Flights to Europe
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The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has confirmed the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, citing the airline"s non-compliance with safety standards, EASA said PIA is not effectively complying with safety standards and must take corrective measures actions disable the ban.
PIA flights to Europe and the UK are suspended from 2020 after EASA revoked the airline"s license following a pilot licensing scandal. This scandal, which followed the fatal plane crashes in May 2020, led to the suspension of 262 of Pakistan"s 860 pilots, 141 of whom were from PIA."The European Union Aviation Safety Agency considers that there is currently no basis to change the list of airlines that are prohibited from operating in the Union for airlines licensed in Pakistan," said a spokesperson for the European Commission.
An EU on-the-spot assessment in Pakistan in November 2023 found that, although the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) complies with international safety standards, it has serious deficiencies such as insufficient staffing and inadequate internal controls.The government of Pakistan plans to privatize PIA by mid-2024, which is required by the IMF. Six companies were selected for the tender, including Air Blue and Arif Habib Corporation..
