The CAA will meet with the European Commission to discuss lifting the flight ban.
The European Commission (EC) has agreed to a technical discussion with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to examine and perhaps ease the ban on direct flights between European countries and Pakistan.
If the embargo is removed, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) may restart flights to European Union (EU) member countries by the end of this month.
According to a CAA official, the invitation to the conference is a significant step for the reinstatement of direct flights between Pakistan and Europe.
In addition, the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) will be invited to undertake an online assessment of the airline after the end of the technical debate, according to the spokeswoman.
Following that, EC officials may visit Pakistan to perform an on-site evaluation of CAA and PIA before sanctioning direct flights from Pakistan to Europe.
He went on to say that, although the time and schedule for the EC members’ visit are yet unclear, the CAA is hoping that the flying restriction will be removed entirely by April 2023.
He added that the CAA had also received an email from EASA stating that the subject was being discussed.
Following the scandal surrounding the airline’s pilots’ faked flying licences, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) initially banned direct PIA flights to Europe.
