EU bans PIA flights on safety fears

The European Union has barred 35 aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fleet of 42 aircraft from flying to the 27-nation bloc because of safety concerns. The ban exempts just seven Boeing 777s and would affect PIA's lucrative sectors to London, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam and would affect its revenues.

The EU had said last year that it it would ban PIA flights unless the airline revamped its ageing fleet. According to the EU its decision was on safety concerns surrounding the condition of the airlines fleet of 747s and Airbus 310s. (See: Pakistan International Airlines faces EU ban)

Last week, a team led by PIA's chairman and Pakistan's envoy to Brussels met EU representatives to try to resolve the issue. A PIA statement after the meeting said it "strongly disagreed with the EU's proposed action and on the given facts does not consider it to be justifiable".

Last year PIA's domestic and Middle Eastern sector revenues  were hit after the Pakistani government forced it to ground its Fokker fleet, following a public outcry after accidents involving the aircraft.