PIA planes under threat in EU
LAHORE: The Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan will fight a threatened ban on the Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) fleet in the European Union.
The EU, citing safety concerns, is set to ban most of PIA’s Boeing and Airbus fleet from flying to the 27 country EU bloc from March 8. Only PIA’s Boeing 777s will escape the proposed ban.
Reports from Europe suggest a committee of experts had decided to block all but seven planes of the airline’s roughly 40 aircraft fleet from flying to Europe for failing to meet international safety standards.
The airline has flight connections to the UK, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.
Last year the Commission banned nearly 100 airlines from operating in the bloc, targeting mostly African carriers.
CAA deputy director General Vice Marshal Muhammad Safdar Khan told the local Daily Times in Lahore that the CAA was satisfied with the PIA fleet.
He said the fleet’s operations in the bloc would continue after March 8, but certain quarters were trying to exploit the situation.
He conceded that the PIA fleet had some “small operational or technical faults”, but said the CAA knew about these problems, and the situation was being improved.
“The CAA has occasionally stopped some aircraft from flying, but that happens only for two to three days because of technical problems.”
The CAA deputy director general said EU countries had been told they should first consult the CAA on such issues.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements