PIA flies off EU banned list
Amraiz Khan and Nisar Mehdi
LAHORE/KARACHI - The European Union has removed the restrictions imposed on PIA aircraft for operation to EU airports, a CAA spokesman said on Wednesday.
EU had imposed the ban on PIA’s Boeing 747 and Airbus A-310 aircraft in March 2007. Since then CAA and PIA have made extensive efforts to improve the condition of these aircraft and to eliminate the systemic deficiencies in the airline.
In this process a number of stringent measures were introduced which resulted in convincing European Union to lift the ban.
The airline systems and aircraft will continue to be subjected to strict surveillance by CAA in order to sustain the present status and to make further improvement.
A PIA spokesman said that the EU ban on part of its fleet to operate in Europe, has now been completely removed. The decision to remove the ban was conveyed following a review of the comprehensive measures taken by the Airline to overcome EU’s concerns, he said on Wednesday.
The review took place in Brussels on 20th September, 2007 in a meeting of the EU Air Safety Council.
It will be recalled that the EU had imposed the ban on March 4, 2007 which prevented the Airline from flying its fleet of Boeing 747s and Airbus 310s to Europe. To overcome the EU’s concerns, PIA had developed a comprehensive Recovery Plan to strengthen its systems and procedures relating to the upkeep and airworthiness of its fleet.
The EU has shown satisfaction over the progress PIA has made. In a statement from the Transport Commissioner of EU, Jacques Barrot said, “When Airlines take rapid and sound corrective action to comply with safety standards, they can be withdrawn from the list of restricted Airlines quickly”.
The PIA Management, while expressing its satisfaction over this development, has renewed its commitment and resolve to continue pursuing and maintaining the highest international aviation safety standards in its entire global operation including both, European and non-European, destinations.
Meanwhile PIA sources in Karachi told TheNation that the ban imposed by the EU on PIA fleet has now been completely removed.
PIA said that the removal of ban would increase the earnings of the national airline and restore its image at international as well as domestic levels.
The Nation
Amraiz Khan and Nisar Mehdi
LAHORE/KARACHI - The European Union has removed the restrictions imposed on PIA aircraft for operation to EU airports, a CAA spokesman said on Wednesday.
EU had imposed the ban on PIA’s Boeing 747 and Airbus A-310 aircraft in March 2007. Since then CAA and PIA have made extensive efforts to improve the condition of these aircraft and to eliminate the systemic deficiencies in the airline.
In this process a number of stringent measures were introduced which resulted in convincing European Union to lift the ban.
The airline systems and aircraft will continue to be subjected to strict surveillance by CAA in order to sustain the present status and to make further improvement.
A PIA spokesman said that the EU ban on part of its fleet to operate in Europe, has now been completely removed. The decision to remove the ban was conveyed following a review of the comprehensive measures taken by the Airline to overcome EU’s concerns, he said on Wednesday.
The review took place in Brussels on 20th September, 2007 in a meeting of the EU Air Safety Council.
It will be recalled that the EU had imposed the ban on March 4, 2007 which prevented the Airline from flying its fleet of Boeing 747s and Airbus 310s to Europe. To overcome the EU’s concerns, PIA had developed a comprehensive Recovery Plan to strengthen its systems and procedures relating to the upkeep and airworthiness of its fleet.
The EU has shown satisfaction over the progress PIA has made. In a statement from the Transport Commissioner of EU, Jacques Barrot said, “When Airlines take rapid and sound corrective action to comply with safety standards, they can be withdrawn from the list of restricted Airlines quickly”.
The PIA Management, while expressing its satisfaction over this development, has renewed its commitment and resolve to continue pursuing and maintaining the highest international aviation safety standards in its entire global operation including both, European and non-European, destinations.
Meanwhile PIA sources in Karachi told TheNation that the ban imposed by the EU on PIA fleet has now been completely removed.
PIA said that the removal of ban would increase the earnings of the national airline and restore its image at international as well as domestic levels.
The Nation