ISLAMABAD : The European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) authorisation to fly to the bloc for six months, the airline said on Tuesday, a blow to the carrier’s operations.
Separately, the safety agency said it took the action because of concerns about Pakistan’s ability to ensure compliance with international aviation standards at all times.
The suspension follows Pakistan’s grounding of 262 of the country’s 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA’s 434, whose licences the aviation minister termed “dubious”.
“EASA has temporarily suspended PIA’s authorization to operate to the EU member states for a period of six months effective July 1, 2020 with the right to appeal,” PIA said in a statement.
