The European Union (EU) has upheld its decision to maintain the ban on Pakistani air carriers, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Following a recent meeting, the EU found no compelling reasons to revise its existing list of prohibited air carriers operating within the Union, which includes Pakistani airlines.
This verdict follows an extensive assessment conducted by the EU Air Safety Committee, featuring an on-site evaluation of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and sample assessments of Pakistani carriers Fly Jinnah and Airblue Ltd.
The on-site evaluation, conducted between November 27 and 30, 2023, primarily scrutinised the PCAA’s oversight role and responsibilities in ensuring safety.
While acknowledging the PCAA’s commitment to international safety standards and the presence of technically proficient personnel, the assessment team highlighted several deficiencies.
These included inadequate scrutiny in closing findings based solely on proposed corrective actions rather than concrete evidence, deviations from established procedures, and significant understaffing within the Flight Standards Directorate.
Despite these shortcomings, the assessment did not reveal any major safety concerns regarding airworthiness or personnel licencing and training organisations, which were deemed adequately staffed.
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