PIA Set to Resume EU, UK Flight Operations from February

After getting a go-ahead from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to resume flight operations of EU states and the UK. Last year, PIA was restricted from flying to the US, EU, and the UK after EASA’s decision to suspend the national flag carrier’s operation. The flights are set to be functional again from February 2022. The bookings of London-bound flights from Karachi and Lahore will start from February 10 and for Islamabad, they will open on February 12.

The restrictions were imposed due to the Karachi plane crash and Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar issued a statement that read that around 40% of Pakistani pilots had fake licenses. The flight schedules are also available on PIA’s website now.

ICAO had also expressed his satisfaction over safety precautions that have been taken by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Moreover, the national flag carrier reached out to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to lift the ban from flights. PIA has ensured that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has all the safety concerns intact and requested EASA to end the ban.

Do you think given the spread of the Omicron variant, the ICAO’s decision to resume PIA flights across the EU and UK is justified?