Pakistan International Airlines faces EU ban

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) faces a ban from the 27-nation European Union (EU) because of aircraft safety concerns raised by its the 'aviation safety committee'.

PIA has flights to Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.

A committee of EU experts had decided to blacklist 33 of PIA's 40-plane fleet from flying to Europe for failing to meet international safety standards. The decision is expected to come into force in about 10 days, once the European Commission ratifies the ban.

Pakistani said that the airline was working to address the EU's concerns, which focused on maintenance problems and old aircraft.

Last year the Commission banned nearly 100 airlines from  operating in the bloc, targeting mostly African carriers after a spate of fatal crashes involving European passengers.