UK’s Civil Aviation Agency (CVA) has suspended Pakistan International Airlines flight operations from three airports — Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester – a day after European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)'s decision to suspend the national carrier’s flights for six months.
Geo News reported that the spokesperson of CVA told the news outlet: "Following the decision on June 30, 2020, by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to suspend permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate services to the European Union, PIA flights from Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester airports are suspended with immediate effect.”
The spokesperson added that CVA was required under law to withdraw PIA’s permit to operate to the UK pending EASA’s restoration of their approval that it meets international air safety standards.
A spokesperson for PIA confirmed the development in a conversation with the news outlet. He said, "EU has suspended PIA for six months, starting from July 1, 2020. This ban comes in the aftermath of the pilots' licence controversy which severely disrupted the confidence of the EU."
Over 1.6 million British Pakistanis in the UK who regularly travels between the UK and Pakistan will be affected greatly by the decision. Previously, PIA flew 25 flights to the UK every week with 7,500 passengers flying.
Geo News reported that the spokesperson of CVA told the news outlet: "Following the decision on June 30, 2020, by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to suspend permission for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate services to the European Union, PIA flights from Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester airports are suspended with immediate effect.”
The spokesperson added that CVA was required under law to withdraw PIA’s permit to operate to the UK pending EASA’s restoration of their approval that it meets international air safety standards.
A spokesperson for PIA confirmed the development in a conversation with the news outlet. He said, "EU has suspended PIA for six months, starting from July 1, 2020. This ban comes in the aftermath of the pilots' licence controversy which severely disrupted the confidence of the EU."
Over 1.6 million British Pakistanis in the UK who regularly travels between the UK and Pakistan will be affected greatly by the decision. Previously, PIA flew 25 flights to the UK every week with 7,500 passengers flying.