KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Thursday named one of the company’s senior executives as its acting CEO as it prepares to resume flights to Europe after the lifting of the ban.
A PIA spokesperson said on Sunday that the airline aims to fly to Europe in the next three to four weeks, starting from Paris, after the ban imposed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is lifted. Flights are to resume.
The airline needs to appoint a permanent CEO. In the interim, it issued a statement on Thursday saying that Khurram Mushtaq, formerly head of PIA’s commercial, airport services, flight services, security and vigilance departments, has replaced Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat. He will take charge of his post after the expiry of his tenure. finished”
He did not say when it was.
In 2020, EASA suspended the authorization of PIA to operate in the European Union due to concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to ensure compliance with international aviation standards. gave
Britain also suspended PIA’s permission to operate in the region after Pakistan launched an investigation into the validity of the pilots’ licenses after the plane crash that killed 97 people.
PIA and the government, which aims to sell a 60 percent stake in the carrier, had urged EASA to lift the ban, which earns the airline 40 billion rupees ($144 million) a year.
The loss-making national carrier has a 23 percent share of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market, but a lack of direct flights means its fleet of 34 planes cannot compete with Middle Eastern carriers that are in the market. 60 percent share.
A failed attempt to privatize the airline in October received a single offer, well below its asking price.