Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been granted permission to resume flights to Europe after a suspension that lasted for four years. The suspension, imposed in 2020, had halted direct flights between Pakistan and European countries. This decision is a major development for Pakistan’s aviation industry.
Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the news on Friday, explaining that the suspension was lifted due to the Ministry of Aviation’s efforts to strengthen the Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and improve safety measures in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The Ministry's work helped secure new approvals for PIA and Airblue, another Pakistani airline. Asif thanked the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for their careful review of Pakistan's aviation safety. He described the decision as a recognition of the PCAA’s focus on improving airworthiness, pilot licensing, and flight safety.
The decision to lift the ban came after a visit by EASA and European Commission officials to Pakistan in 2023. During this visit, they examined Pakistan’s progress in addressing safety concerns, particularly issues related to pilot qualifications and overall aviation standards. This visit was an important step in rebuilding trust with European regulators, who had imposed the suspension following a 2020 plane crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100 people. The crash, combined with reports of fake pilot licenses, led to the suspension of PIA’s flights to Europe.
The ban had a significant financial impact on PIA, costing the airline an estimated Rs 40 billion ($143.73 million) each year. The suspension also hampered PIA’s efforts to privatize, as potential investors were hesitant to invest due to safety concerns.
Minister Asif highlighted several reforms that played a key role in meeting EASA’s safety standards. These included the introduction of the PCAA Act, the separation of regulatory and service roles, and the appointment of professional leadership. These reforms were essential in assuring European regulators that Pakistan’s aviation system now met the required safety standards.
PIA’s CEO, Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat, also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Aviation, PCAA, and the PIA team in meeting international safety standards. He emphasized that the lifting of the suspension was the result of four years of hard work.
A PIA spokesperson, Abdullah Hafeez, confirmed that EASA had officially communicated its decision and assured that PIA would continue to comply with EASA’s safety regulations to maintain the highest standards in its operations.