The European Union (EU) has decided to maintain its ban on Pakistani air carriers, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Despite recent evaluations, the EU found no reason to alter the existing prohibition list, which includes Pakistani airlines.
The decision comes after an extensive review by the EU Air Safety Committee, which included an on-site evaluation of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and sample assessments of Pakistani carriers Fly Jinnah and Airblue Ltd. The on-site evaluation took place from November 27 to 30, 2023, and focused on the PCAA's oversight responsibilities and safety protocols.
The evaluation acknowledged the PCAA's commitment to international safety standards and the technical competence of its personnel. However, it also identified several deficiencies.
These included insufficient scrutiny in closing findings based on proposed corrective actions rather than concrete evidence, deviations from established procedures, and significant understaffing within the Flight Standards Directorate.
Despite these issues, the assessment did not reveal any major safety concerns regarding airworthiness or personnel licensing and training organisations, which were found to be adequately staffed. Fly Jinnah was noted for needing improvements in record-keeping and management of findings.
In response to these findings, the PCAA submitted 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.
These measures included increasing the number of qualified inspectors in the Flight Standards Directorate from one to nineteen, establishing Quality Control sections in each department, and creating a central Quality Assurance department.
Fly Jinnah also detailed operational enhancements and efforts to improve its quality management system, including the use of software tools and outsourcing some activities to Air Arabia.
The EU Air Safety Committee emphasised the need for continuous monitoring of Pakistan's safety situation, with plans for regular technical meetings in Brussels and periodic progress reports from the PCAA to ensure ongoing oversight.
The Committee also highlighted the importance of sustained support from the Pakistani government and stability in leadership within the PCAA. Currently, the EU maintains the ban on Pakistani air carriers and urges Member States to conduct ramp inspections to verify compliance.
The Commission warned that any signs of imminent safety risks could lead to further action, stressing the critical importance of adhering to international safety standards.
This decision underscores the EU's commitment to maintaining stringent safety protocols and ensuring that all airlines operating within its airspace meet the highest safety standards. For Pakistani airlines, the focus will now be on addressing the highlighted deficiencies and working towards lifting the ban in the future.
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