The European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency have lifted a four-year suspension on Pakistan International Airlines flights to Europe, Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif said on Friday.

In 2020, the EASA banned the national flag carrier from operating flights to Europe following a fatal crash in May attributed to pilot error.

The ban was enacted after the then aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, revealed in Parliament that many commercial pilots had either fake licences or had cheated on their exams.

It remains banned from operating in the United States.

The ban was costing PIA nearly Rs40 billion in revenue annually, according to government records presented in Parliament.

In 2023, PIA made losses of $270 million according to local media. Its liabilities were nearly $3 billion, about five times the total worth of its assets.

Last year, dozens of flights were cancelled when it could not afford fuel for its planes.

“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency have lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” he said in a post on X.

The decision comes after a year of the visit of a team of EASA and the European Commission to Pakistan. They reviewed measures taken by the PCAA regarding issues of pilot licences, airworthiness and flight safety.

In its review, the EU Air Safety Committee stressed the need for ongoing monitoring of the safety situation in Pakistan.

The committee indicated that it may invite the PCAA for further hearings at future meetings if necessary. It underscored the importance of sustained government support and leadership stability within the PCAA as essential for its effective functioning.

The EU urged member states to maintain rigorous checks on air carriers certified in Pakistan to ensure their compliance with international safety standards via prioritizing ramp inspections of carriers.

The committee warned that if any safety information indicates immediate risks due to non-compliance with international standards, the commission may be compelled to take further action in line with regulations.

The Third Country Operator authorisation was also issued to Airblue, the minister added.

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Asif, who also holds the defence portfolio, said the development was made possible due to the aviation ministry’s “complete focus” on strengthening the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and ensuring safety oversight in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

“Our government has taken significant measures to strengthen PCAA, including enactment of PCAA Act, smooth segregation of regulator and service providers, appointment of professional leadership and training to build the capacity,” he said.

“I am grateful to the European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensure aviation safety in Pakistan.”

“EASA has lifted the suspension of the third country operator authorisation issued to Pakistan International Airlines,” the agency said in a statement.

“This marks the end of a long process initiated in 2020, based on factual and verifiable evidence that the ability of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to certify and oversee its air operators had degraded below acceptable level.”

It added that the EASA “has now re-established sufficient confidence in the PCAA oversight capabilities”.

Asif hopes restrictions on UK operations will be lifted soon

Separately, Asif told Geo News that over the past three years, the government underwent multiple audits and fulfilled its requirements.

Asif expressed optimism about the benefits of the ban’s removal and hoped that restrictions on operations in the UK would also be lifted soon. He mentioned that other airlines, including FlyJinnah, are currently undergoing the auditing process as well.

When asked about the timeline for Pakistani carriers to resume flights to Europe, the minister expressed hope for a quick return to operations, stating, “I cannot provide an exact date, but it’s only a matter of time.”

In addressing questions about PIA, which is currently undergoing privatization, the minister noted that the airline needed new aircraft to operate on such newly available routes. “PIA has a severe lack of aircraft for these operations,” he said and added that acquiring new planes would also aid in the airline’s financial recovery.

Asif spoke about the previous privatisation attempt, mentioning that it received a muted response. But he added that regaining access to these European routes significantly enhances PIA’s value, making it more appealing to potential buyers.

The minister went on to add that the transaction regarding the resumption of services would need to be restructured but assured that “we will do it quickly.”

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his involvement in the process. Asif stressed the need for considering purchasing new aircraft and making decisions about privatisation in the coming days.

While describing the effort as a challenging and difficult journey, the minister called it a significant achievement for the aviation ministry and civil aviation authorities. “We are hopeful that we will have more bans lifted and PIA, whether private or state-owned, will take flight again.”

Deputy PM Dar shares EU letter

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also posted the update on X and shared the email from the EASA.

“Wonderful news of lifting of the ban on PIA flights in the entire European Union,” he said.

PIA, which employs 7,000 people, has long been accused of being bloated and poorly run – hobbled by unpaid bills, a poor safety record and regulatory issues.

The government has said it is committed to privatising the debt-ridden airline and has been scrambling to find a buyer.

Last month, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price.

PCAA head Nadir Shafi Dar confirmed the ban had been lifted.

A PIA spokesperson meanwhile said the airline would “strictly adhere to EASA’s regulations and guidelines”.

“This milestone has been achieved after four years of relentless efforts by the PIA management,” the spokesperson added.

(With input from AFP, Reuters)