Europe bans entry of Pakistan International Airlines over dubious pilot license

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Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury

, ET BureauLast Updated: Jun 30, 2020, 11:29:00 PM IST

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Pakistan International Airlines spokesman Abdullah Hafeez said PIA has not been flying to Europe because of the pandemic. But the airline had hoped to resume its flights to Oslo, Copenhagen, Paris, Barcelona and Milan within the next two months.

PIA-AP — Aviation experts fear the ban by the European Union could also affect PIA flights to the United Kingdom and Canada

ISLAMABAD: The European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate in Europe for six months following fake license issue.

The move was taken after Pakistan itself announced that 262 pilots have “dubious” licenses.

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“EASA has temporarily suspended PIA's authorisation to operate to the EU member states for a period of 6 months effective July 1, 2020, with the right to appeal against this decision,” a PIA statement said.

PIA would discontinue all its flights to Europe temporarily.

"PIA is in contact with EASA to allay their concerns and to take necessary corrective measures along with filing the appeal against the decision," the statement said.

Pakistan Civil Aviation Minister announcement last week of the grounding of 262 airline pilots suspected of having free licenses had caused global concern.

Meanwhile the UN has also cautioned its staff to avoid travelling by PIA.

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