KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume flight operations on European routes soon after the EU aviation regulator lifted its ban on Pakistan’s flag carrier.
The European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) imposed a ban on Pakistan’s national flag career in 2020, after a PIA plane crash in Karachi killed nearly 100, followed by a fake pilot licence scandal.
The ban caused huge economic loss to the airline as it had to stop flight operations on its most lucrative routes in Europe and Britain. According to reports the ban cost the airline annual revenue of nearly $144 million.
“PIA plans to approach the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) for UK route resumption, as EASA clearance is a prerequisite for their decision,” PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan told Reuters news agency.
The UK authorities suspended permission for PIA to operate in the country after Pakistan started investigating the validity of pilots’ licenses after the deadly plane crash.
Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the national airline hopes to resume flights to Europe, starting with Paris, within the next three to four weeks.
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He said once PIA gets approval for UK flights, London, Manchester, and Birmingham flights would be resumed. Before the suspension, PIA was the only Pakistani airline that offered non-stop flights to many European destinations from Pakistan.
There are approximately 2.2 million Pakistanis in Europe. Around half live in the United Kingdom. Italy, Greece, France, Spain, Germany and Denmark also have large Pakistani communities.
PIA and the government, which is aiming to sell a 60 percent share, had urged EASA to lift the ban.
PIA spokesman said the company has sufficient cash flow to add new destinations. He said the decisions to lease new aircraft will be made after the government finalises privatisation discussions.
The national flag carrier has a 23% stake in Pakistan’s local aviation market, the airline has agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots.
As per the Foreign Office, the EU is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a significant source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan. The EU accounts for a substantial share of Pakistan’s exports, particularly in the sectors of textiles and garments.
