PIA to resume flights to Europe as EASA ban lifted

• Asif says EASA ban lifting to help in privatisation of loss-making PIA.
• Successfully met strict standards of EU aviation safety: PIA spox.
• EU envoy Kionka lauds Pakistan's steps to regain EASA confidence.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted ban on the flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe after a gap of nearly fours, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday.

Making an announcement via an X post on Friday, Asif — who also holds portfolio of aviation minister — wrote: "It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and the EASA have lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe."

"Not only this, TCO [Third Country Operators] authorisation has also been issued to the second Pakistani airline — Airblue Limited," he added.

"It is made possible due to the complete focus of Aviation Ministry to strengthen PCAA [Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority] and ensure safety oversight in line with ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization] standards."

Giving credit to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, Asif said: "Our government has taken significant measures to strengthen PCAA including enactment of PCAA Act, smooth segregation of regulator and service providers, appointment of professional leadership and training to build the capacity."

He thanked the European Commission and the EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensure aviation safety in Pakistan.

Speaking to Geo News, the minister said that the "lifting of suspension" would help in privatisation of the loss-making national carrier.

After the fresh development, PIA's flight operations to the EU would be restored soon, he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the latest attempt to privatise struggling national airlines collapsed after the sole bidder, Blue World City, failed to meet the government’s minimum asking price of Rs85 billion ($304 million).

Offering Rs10 billion ($35.8 million) for a 60% stake in PIA, the sole bidder flatly refused further negotiations.

Later, the Privatisation Commission Board dismissed the sole bid of Rs10b, emphasising the need to refine terms to attract investors while minimising the airline’s liabilities. The airline is currently saddled with approximately Rs200 billion in liabilities.

Responding to a question, Asif said that the PIA's rating has improved and hoped the UK and other countries would also lift their restrictions on the national flag carrier.

Reacting to the EASA's decision, a spokesperson of the PIA said: "We have achieved this key milestone after tireless efforts of four years."

The nationals would be able to travel to European sectors via direct flights again, the airline announced.

The spokesperson, in a statement, congratulated the PIA administration for successfully meeting the strict standards of the EASA for aviation security besides vowing for complete compliance with the regulations.

Unveiling the future plan, the spokesperson said that the airline would operate flights to Paris in the initial phase which is expected to be commenced in a few weeks.

The spokesperson expressed hope that after the EASA's decision, the ban on PIA flights in the United Kingdom (UK) would be lifted soon. He clarified that the British officials would decide on allowing PIA’s direct flights.

Reacting to the development, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Riina Kionka said on X that the EU aviation safety agency had taken the technical decision in 2020 to suspend the flights, adding that the Pakistani aviation authority undertook a stringent, monitored process to improve, requiring effort and dedication.

Praising the Pakistani authorities, Kionka added: "As a result, EASA's confidence has been restored. Like the decision to suspend, the decision now to authorise Pakistani airlines to fly to, from and within the EU was a technical, not a political decision. Well done!"

Fake licenses saga

The European authorities had initially imposed a ban on the operation of Pakistani airlines in July 2020 for six months after the then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar revealed that pilots possessed "fake" licences.

Since then, the safety agency kept extending the ban on PIA flights to fly to the bloc, citing concerns about "Pakistan's ability to ensure compliance with international aviation standards at all times".

The ban was a big blow to the airline, which was already under scrutiny across the world due to uncovered pitfalls within Pakistan's aviation industry.

The startling revelations came as Sarwar presented the interim report on the probe into the PIA PK-8303 crash that resulted in the deaths of 85 passengers after the plane crashed in Karachi on May 22, 2020.

Following the report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had expressed concern over the "serious lapse in licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator".

Subsequently, on June 24, 2020, the aviation minister announced that the qualifications of 262 of the country’s 860 pilots in Pakistan are "dubious" and thus they will be barred from flying.

It is to be noted that EASA licenses, issued by the European Union, carry weight not only within EU member states but also in numerous other countries.

This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.