The European Union (EU) has lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights on EU routes, officials said. The ban was imposed on as many as 20 aircraft of the PIA on March 4, 2007. Prior to this action, the EU had warned the PIA in 2006 to maintain its aircraft in accordance with the safety standards set by it (EU) or face sanctions. The EU cleared 11 aircraft of PIA in June this year and now removed the ban on all the remaining nine planes on Nov 28. PIA chairman Zafar A Khan said that now the PIA would restructure its routes all over the world and also consider those routes which the national carrier had abandoned following the EU ban on its aircraft. The availability of all aircraft for use would provide the PIA a flexible policy in defining the new routes, but one thing is sure that the airline would not opt for those routes that are feared to increase the revenue losses, he added. Khan said the airline is passing through a tough financial situation and cannot restart its operations in high-trafficking and on competitive routes. The EU ban had prevented the airlines from operating its fleet of Boeing 747s and Airbus 310s to the destinations in the EU. Otherwise, its Boeing 777 continued to carry out PIA operations in some European countries. The PIA owns a total of 42 aircraft for domestic and international routes. The decision to remove the ban was conveyed following a review of the comprehensive measures taken by the PIA to overcome EU s concerns.
