Aviation talks fuel hopes for resumption of PIA flights to US

Positive developments have emerged from a week-long consultation with the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), raising hopes for the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the United States. 

This follows the resumption of PIA flights to the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).  

According to a news report, discussions between the US FAA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), supported by representatives from the US Embassy, centered on reviewing Pakistan’s aviation regulatory, legal, and operational framework. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing aviation safety and oversight.

The FAA delegation has now returned to the US, where they will share their findings soon. PIA’s CEO also met with the FAA team to brief them on the airline’s operations. 

PCAA sources said there is optimism about the resumption of US flights, as most safety and licensing concerns appear to have been addressed, and the FAA team expressed satisfaction with the progress made.

Flights from Pakistan to the EU, UK, and US were suspended after a 2020 revelation in a parliamentary session that Pakistani pilots were being issued licenses without proper training. However, the recent discussions signal significant improvements in safety standards.

In the meantime, PIA announced the temporary suspension of its flights to Canada this month due to scheduled maintenance of its long-range aircraft. The airline’s Boeing 777 planes, which operate nonstop flights of up to 17 hours, will undergo a three-week inspection and parts replacement required every 10 years.

PIA confirmed that this maintenance is crucial for ensuring the fleet is fully prepared for an expected rise in passenger demand next month. 

“We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers, but their safety and the complete fitness of aircraft remain the airline’s foremost priority,” a spokesperson said.