Islamabad:
The British Aviation Safety Committee is expected to hold a crucial meeting on Thursday, March 20, to examine the five -year ban on Pakistani international airlines (PIA) and other Pakistani carriers.
According to sources, the Committee will assess the case of Pakistani airlines, which have been prohibited from operating in the United Kingdom and Europe since July 2020. The restrictions have been imposed following the false pilot license scandal which raised serious concerns concerning air security standards in Pakistan.
The officials of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) expressed their optimism concerning a positive result of the meeting. “With the recent resumption of flights to Europe, we hope that the United Kingdom will also approve the restoration of Pakistani airlines,” said a CAA official.
The prohibition was applied after European and British regulators suspended PIA operations, invoking concerns about licenses and certification of pilots. The decision had a significant impact on the aviation sector of Pakistan, limiting direct flight options in the United Kingdom and Europe.
If the Committee reigns in favor of the ban of the ban, Pakistani airlines could soon be authorized to resume operations at British airports, marking an important breakthrough for the country’s aviation industry.
