The European Union is expected to lift a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after an International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) validation committee cleared a safety audit report on the Pakistani flag carrier, local media reported on Thursday.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had suspended the authorization of PIA to operate in EU member countries in July 2020 over licensing and flight safety concerns.
The licensing scandal tainted Pakistan’s aviation industry and the country grounded 262 airline pilots suspected of dodging their exams following checks of their qualifications.
An ICAO audit team visited Pakistan to undertake a safety audit of the aviation authority and completed the process on December 10, the Dawn newspaper reported. However, its final report would be released in a few weeks and the Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) would be gradually eased out.
“Yes, the ICAO has informed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that the safety audit conducted by its team recently was presented before its validation committee, which cleared it after which the SSC will be removed and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency will lift the ban,” the report quoted PCAA Director General Khaqan Murtaza as telling the participants of a meeting of the Senate sub-committee on aviation on Wednesday.
