Airblue has received authorization from the European Commission and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to operate flights to Europe.
This development marks a significant expansion for the airline, which already serves international destinations such as Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, as well as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the UAE. With this approval, Airblue is set to broaden its reach, enhancing Pakistan’s global connectivity.
The announcement comes as the European Union lifted its suspension on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which had been in place since 2020. Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the decision followed extensive efforts by the Ministry of Aviation to improve safety oversight and meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
The ban on PIA was initially imposed after a Karachi plane crash in 2020, which tragically claimed nearly 100 lives and revealed irregularities in pilot licensing. The suspension severely impacted PIA, costing the airline an estimated Rs. 40 billion ($143.73 million) annually.
Following a 2023 inspection by EASA and the European Commission, Pakistan’s aviation sector regained the confidence of European regulators, paving the way for PIA’s return and Airblue’s entry into the European market.