PIA fails to get EASA’s approval for flight operations to EU, UK

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has refused to lift its ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from operating flights to Europe, the European Commission said in a statement, citing the national carrier's failure to meet its safety guidelines, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The spokesman for the EASA said PIA still lacks effective compliance regarding safety standards. To end the ban on Pakistani airlines, it was vital for them to implement corrective measures.

PIA flights to Europe and the UK were suspended since 2020 after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked the national flag carrier’s authorization to fly to the bloc following a pilot license scandal that rocked the country.

Fake degree issue, which followed a plane crash in May 2020 that killed nearly a hundred people, had resulted in the grounding of 262 of Pakistan’s 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA’s 434.

“The European Union Aviation Safety Agency considers that at this time there are no grounds for amending the list of air carriers, which are subject to an operating ban within the Union concerning air carriers certified in Pakistan,” said a European Commission spokesman.

The spokesman further said the status of Pakistani air carriers will remain unchanged, in contrast with PIA CEO Muhammad Amir Hayat’s statement last month in which he expressed confidence that the PIA would resume flights to Europe, including two weekly flights to Paris, in June or July.

The commission said that EU experts conducted an on-site assessment in Pakistan on November 27-30, 2023.

“It was found that PCAA has an established policy to adhere to international safety standards, and is staffed by technically skilled and professional persons,” the document stated. “Nevertheless, common shortcomings were observed throughout the organization, such as underscoring of non-conformities, and the lack of internal verifications.”

It said Pakistan’s Flight Standards Directorate was “severely understaffed” in terms of sufficiently qualified personnel to perform all certification and safety oversight tasks. “This situation is aggravated by the assignment of tasks that do not necessarily fall within the Flight Standards remit,” it added.

Pakistan’s government is set to privatize the national airline, which has been facing a financial crisis for the last several years, by June and July as part of the requirements set by the IMF.

Earlier, Privatization Minister Aleem Khan said Pakistan had selected six companies qualified to bid to buy the PIA. The companies included Air Blue, Arif Habib Corporation, Blue World City, Fly Jinnah, Pak Ethanol (Pvt) Consortiums, and YB Holdings Consortiums.

Reporter: Khurshid Rehmani