Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday announced that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for flights to Europe.

The EASA banned the airline from its most lucrative routes in Europe and Britain in June 2020. The move came in the wake of a PIA plane crash in Karachi that killed nearly 100, followed by a scandal over alleged fake pilot licences sparked by claims made by PTI-era aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

The ban cost the airline an annual revenue of nearly Rs40 billion. Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik informed the National Assembly in June that PIA flights to Europe were expected to be restored soon as the European Commission Air Safety Commission had delisted Pakistan from its concern list on May 14, describing it as a “positive development”.

In March, Asif claimed that PIA flights to the UK would resume soon after clearance from EASA by mid-May. The minister’s remarks were based on conversations with “relevant quarters”.

In a post on X today, Asif said: “It is a momentous day to announce that European Commission and EASA has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe.”

He added that Third Country Operator authorisation was also issued to Airblue.

Asif said the development was made possible due to the aviation ministry’s “complete focus” on strengthening the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and ensuring safety oversight in line with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“Our government has taken significant measures to strengthen PCAA, including enactment of PCAA Act, smooth segregation of regulator and service providers, appointment of professional leadership and training to build the capacity.

“I am grateful to European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensure aviation safety in Pakistan.”