The European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have officially lifted the suspension on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), allowing the airline to resume flights to Europe. This marks an important moment for Pakistan's aviation industry, as the suspension, which had been in place since 2020, had cut off direct air links between Pakistan and European countries.
Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the news on Friday, explaining that the suspension was lifted and the new authorization granted to Airblue thanks to the Ministry of Aviation's efforts to strengthen the Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and improve safety oversight. These steps ensured compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Asif expressed his gratitude to the European Commission and EASA for their transparent and thorough process in reviewing Pakistan's aviation safety. He called the decision a sign of the PCAA's renewed focus on improving airworthiness, pilot licensing, and flight safety.
The lifting of the ban follows a visit by an EASA and European Commission team to Pakistan in 2023. During this visit, the team reviewed Pakistan's progress in addressing safety concerns, especially regarding pilot qualifications and overall safety standards. This visit was key to rebuilding trust with European regulators, who had imposed the ban after a 2020 plane crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people. The crash, combined with revelations about fake pilot licenses, led to the suspension of PIA’s flights to Europe.
The suspension had a major financial impact on PIA, costing the airline an estimated Rs 40 billion ($143.73 million) annually. The ban also affected PIA’s efforts to privatize, as potential investors were hesitant due to safety concerns.
In his statement, Minister Asif pointed to several key reforms that helped meet EASA’s safety requirements, including the enactment of the PCAA Act, the separation of regulatory and service functions, and the appointment of professional leadership. These reforms were crucial in convincing European authorities that Pakistan's aviation safety was up to standard.
PIA’s CEO, Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat, also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Aviation, PCAA, and PIA staff for their hard work in meeting international safety standards. He called the lifting of the suspension the result of four years of continuous effort by the airline’s management.
A PIA spokesperson, Abdullah Hafeez, confirmed that EASA had officially communicated its decision and emphasized that PIA would continue to follow EASA’s regulations to maintain safety and integrity in its operations.