Pakistan International Airlines faces possible ban by European Union

KARACHI — Undermined by alleged massive corruption, the troubled national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) faces a possible ban by aviation regulators of the European Union, Khaleej Times has learnt.

In a letter to PIA, the EU regulators showed serious concern over a ‘systematic deficiency’ in PIA’s aircraft maintenance and termed the regulatory role of the CAA unreliable. They have started carefully examining the situation before taking a final decision to ban the airline operations in its region.

In case the EU decided to ban PIA it will be the second time that the ailing carrier would be stopped from landing in EU member countries. While a final decision in this regard is likely to be taken in the aviation safety agency’s meeting in March 2012, the EU could impose the ban even earlier, sources said.

According to the letter written by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), EU teams would examine in detail the condition of PIA aircraft to ensure they were properly maintained and their operation would not compromise air safety.

The letter said that EASA had received statements from the PIA as well as the CAA with regard to the quality of maintenance work being carried out by PIA personnel.

“The agency had to learn that PIA aircraft subject to SAFA inspections over the last 12 months have revealed numerous maintenance-related findings,” the letter said.

PIA spokesperson Sultan Hassan when asked about the letter neither denied nor confirmed it but told Khaleej Times that the national carrier was not facing any ban threat to its operations in Europe.

 http://www.khaleejtimes.com