ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) can now fly directly to Europe as European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Union has lifted ban on the airline, after three years.
The ban was imposed in 2020, over licensing and safety issues.
Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif in a tweet said that PIA and Air blue have also been granted third country authorisation.
“European Union has restored PIA’s routes. The Ministry of Aviation and Civil Aviation, after many years of struggle and hard work, completed all the standard and audit requirements that were required to obtain the authorisation from the European Union Commission,” wrote in a post on social media platform “X”.
“The European Union has also issued this permit to another Pakistani airline, Air Blue. Alhamdulillah this is a big breakthrough for Pakistani airlines and aviation industry. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s regular monitoring paid off and Allah gave success,” the post added.
Asif, while talking to Geo News said that PIA needs new aircraft for its fleet, before resuming direct flights to Europe.
The government-owned PIA, is in the process of privatisation with Pakistan’s Cabinet Committee on Privatisation this month, rejecting a $36 million bid by a real-state company.
