Karachi: The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its decision to maintain the ban on Pakistani air carriers, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), according to a recent report.

Following a comprehensive evaluation by the EU Air Safety Committee, no compelling reasons were found to revise the current list of prohibited air carriers operating within the Union, which includes several Pakistani airlines.

The assessment, which took place between November 27 and 30, 2023, involved an on-site evaluation of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and included sample assessments of Pakistani carriers Fly Jinnah and Airblue Ltd.

While the evaluation acknowledged the PCAA's dedication to international safety standards and the presence of technically proficient personnel, it identified several deficiencies. These included insufficient 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 licensing and training organizations, which were found to be adequately staffed.

Fly Jinnah, one of the airlines assessed, was specifically called out for improvement in record-keeping and management of findings.

In response to the assessment, the PCAA presented a comprehensive Corrective Action Plan (CAP) on May 6, 2024. During a subsequent hearing before the EU Air Safety Committee on May 14, 2024, the PCAA outlined measures taken to address the identified issues.

The PCAA significantly increased its cadre of qualified inspectors from one to nineteen within the Flight Standards Directorate, established Quality Control sections in each department, and set up a central Quality Assurance department.

Fly Jinnah detailed operational enhancements and efforts to rectify flaws in its quality management system, including the adoption of software tools and outsourcing certain activities to Air Arabia.

The EU Air Safety Committee emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring of Pakistan's safety situation. It proposed regular technical meetings in Brussels and periodic progress reports from the PCAA to ensure continued oversight.

Moreover, the Committee stressed the importance of sustained support from the Pakistani government and stability in leadership within the PCAA.

Currently, the EU continues to uphold the ban on Pakistani air carriers and has urged Member States to conduct ramp inspections to verify compliance. The Commission warned that any indication of imminent safety risks could lead to further action, underscoring the utmost importance of upholding international safety standards.

Title: EU Maintains Ban on Pakistani Airlines, PIA Affected

Far-right Gains in EU Elections Raise Concerns for Migrants, Macron, and Ukraine

European Parliament Election Underway as Estonians Cast First Ballots

India, Egypt Lead in Russian Fuel Oil and VGO Imports in April, Here's Why....