March 01, 2007	Thursday	Safar 11, 1428

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KARACHI, Feb 28: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday broke its silence on reports about an impending European Union ban on its flights and said it had received “nothing in writing” in this regard.

“PIA to date has received nothing in writing from EU concerning any reported discontinuation of permission for PIA aircraft’s operations to European destinations,” said a press release.

However, it said that the airline continued to be in touch with the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency on all operational and professional issues concerning aviation industry in Asian countries.

The European Commission’s Air Safety Committee, during a recent visit to Pakistan, held a series of technical consultations with the PIA management on technical upkeep, airworth-

iness and the interior of aircraft operating on the European sector.

According to the press release, the committee expressed satisfaction over “PIA aircraft’s operational and professional issues”.

The press release said that a couple of airlines of various countries were occasionally disallowed from operating some of their flights to EU destinations until they met necessary regulatory certifications from the European Aviation Safety Agency.

“Hence recently reported EU statement disallowing some of PIA aircraft flight operation to EU destinations for want of necessary exterior and interior refurbishment is nothing new in world aviation industry.”