PIA banned from flying to EU member states for 6 months

The European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended the flight operations of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to the European Union (EU) nations for a period of six months. The suspension will be effective from July 1, 2020. This news was shared by the PIA on social media on June 30.

Check out their tweet here:

EASA has suspended PIA’s permission to operate to EU member states for 6 months w.e.f July 1, 2020: 0000Hrs UTC. PIA is in touch with EASA to allay their concerns and hopes that the suspension will be revoked with our CBMs soon.

— PIA (@Official_PIA) June 30, 2020

PIA added, that they are in touch with EASA to allay their concerns. They also hope that the suspension will be revoked with their CBMs soon.

As reported by Pakistani media Dawn, The move follows the grounding of 262 pilots whose licenses Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan termed “dubious”. Ghulam Sarwar had earlier this month said that nearly 40 percent of all civil aviation pilots in the country hold fake licenses. He had reportedly made these claims when findings were revealed during an investigation. That was conducted following a PIA plane crash that killed nearly 100 people in Karachi last month.

“PIA would discontinue all its flights to Europe temporarily. The passengers who had booked their flights to European destinations can extend their bookings to a later date or get a full refund. The PIA is in contact with EASA to allay their concerns. Also to take necessary corrective measures along with filing the appeal against the decision,” Dawn added further.

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