PIA set to resume flights to Europe

Karachi: The national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday has planned to resume direct flights to France and other European countries.

The management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) published an open call for applications by August 24 for cargo handling services in France.

The PIA country manager in France will receive the applications, according to the PIA spokesperson.

Further, the national carrier plans to be permitted to restart direct flights to European nations after a three-year suspension following approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

In order to look into a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, a delegation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will travel to Pakistan in September of this year. In Europe, EASA is in charge of overseeing aviation security and environmental preservation.

The EASA delegation will undertake a physical audit of PIA as well as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Successfully clearing the audit could lead to a reversal of the ban on PIA flights to European Union, say sources.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Aviation and Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique on Friday stated that the government has decided to outsource new Islamabad International Airport for 15 years.

Islamabad Airport was the first to be affected when Pakistan began outsourcing operations at three major airports in March as part of efforts to build up foreign exchange reserves for its faltering economy.

Speaking to the National Assembly, Khawaja Saad Rafique stated that it has been unanimously decided to move on with the outsourcing of operations at the Islamabad airport in order to enhance service delivery and be consistent with best practices in the sector.

He added that the second phase of outsourcing would involve Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and the Allama Iqbal International airport in Lahore. "Islamabad will be Pakistan's first airport which will be outsourced in first phase," he said.

The aviation department's reported downsizing was categorically denied by the minister, who also made it clear that no CAA employees will lose their jobs as a result of the reorganization efforts.

The minister emphasized the urgent need for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to be restructured once more in order to address the airline's huge deficit, which remained at Rs. 80 billion this year.

He expressed a warning that the national flag carrier would be forced to cease operations in the coming days if significant reforms are not implemented.