Ban lifted on PIA flights to Europe

The European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, announced Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday.

The ban was imposed in 2020 following a fatal crash attributed to pilot error and revelations of fake licenses among commercial pilots. Since then, PIA incurred losses exceeding Rs170 billion.

The ban’s removal follows a comprehensive review by EASA and the European Commission, who assessed the steps taken by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) regarding pilot licensing, flight safety, and airworthiness.

The EU Air Safety Committee has called for continued monitoring of safety in Pakistan and emphasized the importance of government support and leadership stability. It also warned of future actions if safety standards are not met.