Suspension from European airspace is latest blow to Pakistan’s troubled airline

The EU’s announcement that Pakistan International Airlines would be barred from flying into Europe for at least six months is the latest blow to the country’s national flag carrier, which has been mired in financial and administrative troubles and has come under scrutiny after a crash in May that killed 97 people. The decision on Tuesday by the EASA to temporarily ban PIA followed revelations last month by the Pakistani aviation minister, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, that a large number of pilots there and at other airlines had dubious credentials. The reports of the questionable credentials have put Pakistani pilots under international scrutiny. Earlier this week, Vietnam grounded 27 Pakistani pilots who fly for Vietnamese airlines. The United Arab Emirates has also sought verification of the credentials of Pakistani airline employees. The European air safety agency said the airline “is currently not capable to certify and oversee its operators and aircraft in accordance with applicable international standards.” The airline has long been criticized as being overstaffed, has a reputation for lax quality control, and many appointments are seen as a result of political pressure or nepotism. Repeated efforts by successive governments to make it financially viable have failed, and it is running into a loss of around 6b rupees, or about $36m, per month, officials say. Pakistani officials have described its financial situation as a “bottomless pit.”<br/>