Islamabad, 31 July, 2023 (GNP): The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) firmly rejected the recent advisory issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) cautioning airlines against flying below FL 260 altitude while passing over Lahore and Karachi.
The PCAA spokesperson asserted that the country’s airspace remains “completely safe” for all commercial flights.
“EASA has not communicated any threat to European airlines with Pakistan,” stated the CAA spokesperson emphatically.
In its advisory, EASA warned airlines about the presence of violent non-state actor groups in Pakistan and their possession of anti-aviation weaponry.
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The advisory, released on Sunday, expressed concerns about potential threats to civil aviation operations at altitudes below FL 260. Despite this, the PCAA reassured the international community that they had received no specific threat to European airlines.
The Aircraft Owners Operators Association (AOOA) also joined in the response, vehemently demanding the withdrawal of EASA’s directive. Imran Aslam Khan, the Founder of AOOA, labeled the instructions from EASA as “irresponsible,” emphasizing that numerous airlines operate daily to and from Pakistani airports.
Khan criticized EASA’s focus on Pakistan while overlooking the safety concerns in the European airspace, particularly after the Ukraine-Russia tension, which has led to a significant route change for many airlines.
EASA’s advisory highlighted the risk of potential attacks using anti-aircraft guns and missiles, prompting pilots to maintain a flight altitude of 26,000 feet to mitigate danger while passing over Karachi and Lahore.
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While this is not the first time EASA has issued such an advisory, the absence of specific threats targeting Pakistan has raised questions about the agency’s approach to airspace safety in the region.
The European agency describes itself as a neutral body committed to ensuring safe air operations globally by developing rules, standards, and guidance, certifying aircraft and equipment, and overseeing organizations across all aviation domains.
The PCAA stands firm in its assurance of airspace safety and urges EASA to reconsider its advisory based on a comprehensive evaluation of relevant information from multiple sources.
