FAA Completes Pakistan Aviation Safety Review
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has wrapped up a weeklong safety assessment of Pakistan’s aviation system in Karachi, raising hopes for the eventual resumption of direct flights between the two countries after a five-year suspension. The audit, carried out with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, reviewed legal, regulatory, and operational frameworks to gauge compliance with international standards.
According to a PCAA statement, the FAA delegation will now return to Washington to analyze its findings before issuing a formal verdict. While the outcome remains uncertain, Pakistan’s success in restoring flights to the European Union and the United Kingdom under DG CAA Nadir Shafi Dar offers “cautious optimism” for a similar result with the U.S.
The five-member FAA team, joined by U.S. Embassy officials, spent the week verifying regulatory documents, evaluating oversight mechanisms, and holding in-depth discussions with Pakistani counterparts. A separate FAA delegation is expected later this year to assess airport and airspace security protocols.
Direct flights between Pakistan and the U.S. have been banned since June 2020 following a deadly Karachi plane crash and a scandal over fake pilot licenses at Pakistan International Airlines. Earlier this year, European and British regulators lifted their restrictions, allowing PIA to resume service to those markets.
A favorable FAA ruling could pave the way for PIA’s return to the U.S. market, shortening travel times for the nearly 700,000 Pakistani expatriates living in America and bolstering confidence in the country’s aviation safety system. Analysts caution, however, that the process may still take months.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=Pakistan+Airlines, https://airguide.info/?s=FAA
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, arabnews.pk