The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted its nearly four-year ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, Defence and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Friday.
Sharing the news via a post on X, Asif stated, “Today marks a significant milestone as the European Commission and EASA have removed the suspension on PIA flights to Europe.” He added that Airblue Limited, a second Pakistani airline, has also received Third Country Operators (TCO) authorization.
Asif credited the achievement to the Aviation Ministry’s efforts to align Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. He highlighted the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government’s reforms, including the enactment of the PCAA Act, separation of regulatory and service functions, professional appointments, and capacity-building training.
In an interview with Geo News, Asif expressed optimism that the development would aid in the privatization of the financially struggling PIA. He anticipated the resumption of PIA flights to the EU and hoped for the lifting of restrictions by the UK and other nations.
The announcement comes after a failed attempt to privatize PIA, with sole bidder Blue World City offering only Rs10 billion ($35.8 million) for a 60% stake, well below the government’s Rs85 billion ($304 million) asking price. The airline currently faces liabilities of approximately Rs200 billion.
The suspension originated in July 2020 when the then aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, disclosed that 262 of Pakistan’s 860 pilots held dubious licenses. This revelation followed the PIA PK-8303 crash that killed 85 passengers in Karachi, raising international concerns about Pakistan’s aviation safety oversight.
EASA’s decision is expected to help PIA rebuild its reputation and regain access to critical international routes.
