European countries refuse to lift ban on PIA

Islamabad, June 5 (UNI) The European countries have refused to lift the existing ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate flights of its aging fleet of passenger aircraft to its cities.

"The ban on PIA aircraft from flying to European countries may last for another six months, as no positive development could be made during talks held in Brussels last week between Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) and European Union's Air Safety Commission (EUASC) officials," a private online news agency reported.

The European Union had banned all, except seven Boeing-777 aircraft, of PIA to operate flights to Europe in the wake of serious safety concerns in June last year asking the airline's management to improve its safety standard.

According to sources, the ICCA and EU safety commission officials told the CAA delegation that a safety commission delegation would visit Pakistan next month to see the measures being taken by PIA's administration to improve safety in its fleet.

UNI