ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it had removed the operating restrictions imposed on Pakistan International Airlines and said the airline now complied with safety standards.

PIA, the EC said in a statement, had successfully completed the implementation of a corrective action plan following its inclusion in the list and that its oversight authority had verified the measures taken by the airline. These measures, it added, provided for long-lasting sustainable solutions to avoid the same problems recurring in the future.

However, PIA will continue to be subject to prioritised ramp inspections at EU airports in order to ensure its consistent adherence to the relevant safety standards.

The lifting of the ban is more of redemption of the lost pride of Pakistan’s national flag carrier rather than any meaningful turnaround in the fortunes of the financially-ailing airline, because there are doubts that it would ever fly all the cleared aircraft back to Europe. It has so far flown to Europe only two of the 11 aircraft which had been cleared in June when the EU partially relaxed the ban it had slapped in March.

PIA revenues took a nosedive because of the restrictions on a large part of its fleet. The airline has so far suffered losses to the tune of about Rs11 billion in the first three quarters of this year.

Jacques Barrot, Commission vice-president in charge of transport said: “This latest revision shows that when airlines take rapid and sound corrective action to comply with safety standards, they can be withdrawn from the list quickly. It also shows that the list increasingly serves as a pre-emptive rather than punitive tool for safeguarding aviation safety. There are now numerous instances where the community has successfully addressed potential safety threats with third countries and airlines in advance and before it is forced to take the drastic measure of imposing restrictions.”

PIA management welcomed the decision. A statement issued by the management reiterated its resolve to continue pursuing and maintaining the highest aviation standards in its global operation.

The EU’s concerns had focused on maintenance problems and old aircraft, specifically pertaining to Boeing 747s and Airbus A310s.