ISLAMABAD – In another blow for Pakistan’s national flag carrier, theEuropean Union aviation safety watchdog refuses to set aside restrictionson flights from South Asian country.
Amid the hopes for Pakistan International Airlines to resume flights toEurope, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said that the ICAO auditof airline has nothing to do with its regulations.
PIA officials expressed hope following the ICAO audit for resumption offlights operation for Europe. PIA CEO Arshad Malik had also shared a tweetterming the ICAO audit as a ‘decisive step’ in the resumption of flights.
The country’s flag carrier had its European third-country operator approvalrescinded in 2020, in wake of a tragic incident involving Airbus A320, andthe subsequent disclosure that crew licences were obtained deceitfully.
In the recent development, EASA Executive Director informed the PIA chiefabout the update maintaining ICAO audit has no link with the agencyevaluation of the airline, adding the European agency will evaluate the PIAitself.
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“EASA will consult other authorities to take the final decision to lift theban on Pakistani airlines routes to the EU and will conduct the audit ofthe Civil Aviation,” it said. The EU safety agency also hinted that it mayhire third country services to conduct an audit of the CAA/PIA.
EASA would conduct the audit as soon the Covid pandemic situation improvedand till then PIA could inform EASA about any update, if any, per reports.
Earlier in January, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)expressed satisfaction over safety measures taken by Pakistan’s CivilAviation Authority (CAA). The positive development were linked to theremoval of the PCAA from the list of the safety-significant concern (SSC).
