EU safety agency to suspend PIA authorisation for six months.

Byline: Amin Ahmed and Mohammad Asghar

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD -- After the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed concerns over the 'serious lapse in the licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator', the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) on Tuesday suspended Pakistan International Airlines' authorisation to operate to the EU member states for a period of six months effective from Wednesday (today), with the right to appeal against the decision.

However, later in the day the European Union allowed PIA to operate its flights to the continent till July 3, the airline's spokesman said.

PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said the extension in flight operations was granted by the EU after the foreign secretary contacted the European authorities. He said the PIA management, Foreign Office and Pakistani ambassadors were all in contact with European officials.

He told Dawn that PIA would operate its flight PK-785 and PK-786 as per previous schedule. However, the schedule of other flights would be announced later.

In an earlier press release, the spokesman had said: 'PIA is in contact with EASA to allay their concerns and to take necessary corrective measures along with filing the appeal against the decision.

'PIA sincerely hopes that with reparative and swift actions taken by the government of Pakistan and PIA management, earliest possible lifting of this suspension can be expected.'

The PIA handout had confirmed that EASA had suspended PIA's authorisation to operate flights to the Europe member states for a period of six months.

The EASA's move came in the wake of last week's statement of federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan in the National Assembly declaring that '150 pilots' of the national flag carrier had 'dubious' commercial licences. Later, PIA grounded its '107 pilots' after a list of pilots having 'dubious' licences was sent to the PIA management.

The pilots and their union raised questions about the government list of pilots as the IATA had also expressed concern over the serious lapse in the licensing and safety oversight by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The PIA had already written to foreign missions and global regulatory and safety bodies, assuring them it had taken stringent steps for the safety of passengers and grounded '105 pilots' suspected of obtaining licenses through unfair means.

EASA's letter

In a four-page letter to PIA, dated June 30 (Tuesday), the EU Aviation Safety Agency executive...