RAWALPINDI: A delegation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is expected to visit Pakistan in September this year for a physical audit of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The visit is being considered as a major development for Pakistani airlines’ restoration of flights to the European countries.

A senior aviation official confirmed that a delegation from the EASA was expected to visit Pakistan in September for a physical audit which was being considered as a critical milestone for PIA as it could result in the resumption of flight operations to the European countries.

Once the final audit by the EASA team is positively completed, the PIA will be able to resume its flight to Europe, he said.

In June 2020, EASA suspended PIA’s operations to Europe for six months which was later extended in the wake of the air crash involving a PIA Airbus A320 flight

from Lahore to Karachi and subsequent disclosure by the then aviation minister in parliament that some pilot licences in the country had been obtained deceitfully.Earlier, aviation minister Khawaja Saad Rafique had said PIA was likely to resume flights to Britain in three months.

“God willing, PIA flights will resume at least to the UK in three months and later to Europe and America,” he said.

EASA is responsible for ensuring safety and environmental protection in air transport in Europe.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2023