In a major step towards resuming the direct flights from Pakistan to the United States, an aviation team from the US Federal Aviation Administration is set to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday. This is the first such visit in several years. According to officials, on the directives of the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, all relevant departments have completed their preparations for the audit and examination.
During the visit, the FAA team will conduct a detailed audit of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, focusing on licensing examinations, flight standards, airworthiness, and state safety oversight. The development has ignited hopes for the restoration of direct flights from Pakistan, including those operated by the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, to the United States. On July 16, the United Kingdom officially lifted restrictions on Pakistani airlines, allowing them once again to apply for flight operations to the UK, the British High Commission announced.
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PIA had officially launched direct flights between Lahore to Paris in June this year. The national carrier also initiated direct flights between Pakistan and the UK this year.
Pakistani Airlines were barred from flying to Europe and Britain after a 2020 PIA plane crash that claimed more than 100 people and even led to controversial claims about the widespread irregularities in pilot licensing. European regulators lifted their suspension last November after due diligence, enabling PIA to resume operations to Paris in January.
The announcement came amid PIA’s broader efforts to re-establish its presence in the European market. Parliamentary Secretary for Aviation Zeb Jaffar revealed during a National Assembly session that PIA has resumed flights to the European Union, with Paris being one of the initial destinations.
Jaffar credited the government’s engagement with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for paving the way for this resumption. Discussions are also ongoing with UK aviation authorities, signaling further expansion into the Western aviation market.