Islamabad: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its Paris operations under an alternative arrangement, more than a month after the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) suspended the national carrier’s authorisation to operate in its member states for six months.
A flight carrying 260 passengers left the French capital for Islamabad on Saturday, according to the Express Tribune newspaper. The plane also has 2.5 tonnes of cargo on board.
The passengers were seen off by the PIA’s country and station managers, it said. The PIA has made alternative arrangements to resume its operations in European countries through special charter flights.
Following the EASA’s move, the UK Civil Aviation Authority also withdrew PIA’s permit to operate from its airports in Birmingham, London and Manchester.
Later, the United States also imposed a ban on flights of the national flag carrier for six months citing dubious licences. The national carrier has reached an agreement with a Portuguese airliner to resume UK flights.
The Portuguese airliner will operate an Airbus A330 with a capacity of more than 300 seats for the PIA. According to Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar, government is utilising all technical and diplomatic means to lift the ban and the PIA would restore its normal flight operations in two months. (PTI)
