EASA retains ban on PIA operations

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has informed Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that a ban on its operations to Europe has been extended for three months, and will not be reviewed until a safety audit of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)’s licensing procedures has been completed. The national flag carrier had recently sought an easing of restrictions, including provisional permission to operate flights to and from European destinations, after meeting several—but not all—safety conditions required of airlines by EASA. In response, EASA said that it could not allow PIA to resume its operations until confidence had been restored in the oversight activities of the CAA.<br/>