After the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) confirmed on Wednesday that Pakistan has rectified significant safety issues, the country is expected to resume flight operations to the United Kingdom and the European Union in the coming days.
After a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) jet tragedy in June 2020, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told the National Assembly that 262 pilots in Pakistan, or nearly 30% of civilian pilots, “did not take the exam themselves,” instead of paying someone to do it on their own.
The minister’s statement was enough to land Pakistan into trouble, as the country’s local airlines, including the national flag carrier, PIA, were barred from European and United States territories.
On Wednesday, the ICAO issued a statement, confirming that Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) audit conducted by its team from November 29 to December 10 found that Pakistan had addressed the Significant Safety Concern (SSC).
He said that PIA has already stated its intention to resume flights to the UK and other European destinations. Meanwhile, Serene Air is expected to expand its foreign operations to the United Kingdom, but Air blue will not be noted.
PIA may potentially be considering expanding its operations from Manchester to New York or Houston, he added.
