PIA foresees huge financial losses after ban on Europe, US flights

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered losses of billions of rupees due to suspension of its flight operation to Europe, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) in the wake of suspension or termination of pilots having fake licences.

The United States, the UK and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) banned PIA flights after it emerged that more than 200 pilots in Pakistan possess dubious licences.

According to estimates, the PIA could suffer losses of Rs33 billion as the EASA has suspended the PIA flights for six months.

PIA operated 23 flights to the UK in a week before the ban -- 10 flights to London, nine to Manchester and four to Birmingham. The national flag carrier operated six flights to Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Copan Hagen in Europe.

The national flag carrier would also suffer losses of up to Rs12 billion in terms of Hajj operations this year after the Saudi authorities decided to hold the annual pilgrimage on a limited scale.