Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is no longer prohibited from operating within the EU, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced on Friday.
Concerns over Pakistani authorities’ and its Civil Aviation Authority’s (PCAA) capacity to enforce adherence to international aviation standards led EASA to suspend PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU in June 2020. Days after a PIA jet tragedy that claimed 97 lives, Pakistan opened an inquiry into the legality of pilots’ licenses given there, which led to the suspension.
In an email to Reuters, an EASA representative stated, “EASA has now re-established sufficient confidence in the PCAA oversight capabilities.” It stated that the PCAA’s “significant efforts” served as the foundation for the decision to authorize PIA to conduct commercial air transport operations to, from, and within the EU.
Of Pakistan’s 860 pilots, 262 had been grounded, including 141 of PIA’s 434, whose licenses the then-aviation minister referred to as “dubious.” The ban was maintained even though the investigation eventually found no serious issues.
The European Commission and EASA were thanked by the aviation minister for their transparent approach and their dedication to ensuring aviation safety in Pakistan. He said that he hoped the UK and other nations will follow the EU’s lead and lift the PIA restriction.
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