Exciting news for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik announced in the National Assembly that PIA flights to Europe are set to resume soon. This follows the recent delisting of Pakistan from the European Commission Air Safety Commission’s concern list on May 14, marking a positive development.
Despite the optimism, the ban on PIA flights by the UK and the European Union continues, costing the airline nearly Rs40 billion in annual revenue. The verification process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is ongoing, and it is expected to be completed within two to three months to facilitate the restoration of flights to Europe.
While Federal Minister of Aviation Khawaja Asif had initially projected a mid-May clearance for PIA flights to the UK, recent evaluations have led the EU to maintain its restrictions on Pakistani airlines due to ongoing safety concerns. The EU Air Safety Committee highlighted areas of concern within the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) that need addressing for future considerations.