EU bar on Pakistani airlines ‘unchanged’
The European Union has opted to continue with its restrictions on Pakistani airlines, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), after recent evaluations raised ongoing safety concerns. The decision, underscored by the possibility of future reviews, follows an exhaustive assessment by the EU Air Safety Committee. During its latest meetings, the committee determined that there were insufficient grounds to amend the current list of air carriers prohibited from operating within the EU. The decision is particularly pertinent to air carriers certified by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). An on-site review conducted from Nov 27 to 30, 2023, critically examined the PCAA’s role in safety oversight and identified multiple areas of concern. These included deviations from established safety procedures and significant understaffing in the Flight Standards Directorate, despite the authority being staffed by technically skilled professionals.