The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted a four-year ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from operating within the 27-member bloc.
The suspension was imposed due to concerns over Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and its ability to meet international aviation standards, following the May 22, 2020 crash of Flight 8303 from Lahore to Karachi, which killed 97 people, reported Reuters .
As part of the investigation into the validity of pilot licenses, Pakistan grounded 262 of its 860 pilots, including 141 from PIA, whose licenses were deemed "dubious" by the country's aviation minister. The investigation, however, did not reveal any major concern, said the Reuters report.
In an emailed statement to the London-based news agency, EASA said it had regained confidence in PCAA's oversight capabilities, citing ongoing dialogue with the authority and on-site assessments in November 2023 as key factors in the decision.
PIA has welcomed the decision.
“It is a momentous day to announce that European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Muhammed Asif wrote on social media platform X . “Not only this, TCO [Third Country Operator] authorization has also been issued to second Pakistani airline – Airblue Limited.”
“It is made possible due to complete focus of Aviation Ministry to strengthen PCAA and ensuring safety oversight in line with ICAO standards,” reads the post. “Our Govt 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.”
The lifting of the ban on PIA has once again brought attention to the decade-long ban on Nepali airlines to operate in European airspace.
The European Union first imposed the ban on Nepali airlines in 2013, citing Nepal’s poor aviation safety record . According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the country has experienced over 100 air crashes since 1955, resulting in more than 900 fatalities.
One of the key concerns is CAAN’s dual role as both a regulator and service provider, which many believe compromises aviation safety in the country.
Both the European Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have long urged Nepal to separate these functions, with the EU setting this as a precondition for lifting the ban on Nepali carriers.
However, despite repeated promises from political leaders, there has been little action. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Bill and the Air Service Authority of Nepal Bill, which propose splitting CAAN’s dual role, were endorsed by the National Assembly in 2021, only to be ignored by the successive governments later.
The parliamentary International Relations and Tourism Committee directed the government to table them in the Lower House, but they were left to gather dust.
However, the government has prepared a new draft bill by updating those bills.
Read: Saurya Airlines Crash Causes Fear Among Residents Near Airport
In September, Ram Krishna Lamichhane, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, confirmed that the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Finance had approved a new draft bill, which is now awaiting presentation to the Cabinet .
Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey told NBA on Saturday, November 30, that the draft bill has already been approved by the Cabinet's Bill Committee.
“We are waiting for the Cabinet’s approval to present the draft bill in the Parliament,” said Pandey, adding that he was fully committed to see it endorsed.
Pandey, however, added that the splitting of the CAAN would not guarantee the lifting of the EU’s ban. “It will be a key factor for the evaluation though,” he added.
In October, the government formed a high-level committee to conduct a comprehensive study of Nepal’s civil aviation sector, which has been plagued by frequent accidents.
Chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Anil Kumar Sinha, the committee is tasked with recommending improvements to ensure the safety of Nepal's airspace. It includes several experts, such as aviation management specialist Rajendra Bahadur Singh, aviation security expert Bheshraj Subedi, and air service operations and quality control expert Captain Riwaj Prasad Pradhan. A joint secretary from the Ministry also serves as the committee's member-secretary.
The committee’s formation followed two fatal crashes within two weeks.
On July 24, a Saurya Airlines Bombardier CRJ 200 (registration 9N-AME) crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport, killing 18 of the 19 people onboard. The aircraft was on a ferry flight to Pokhara for maintenance.
Just two weeks later, on August 7, an Air Dynasty helicopter crashed in the Shivapuri area of Nuwakot district, killing five people.
The preliminary investigation into the Saurya Airlines crash pointed to shortcomings in both the regulator and the operator as contributing factors.
