ISLAMABAD: There is a significant progress has been reported in efforts to resume direct flights between Pakistan and the United States. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to dispatch a team to Pakistan in January for a comprehensive audit, indicating a crucial step toward restoring direct air connectivity between the two countries.
In this regard, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that the authority has directed all concerned department heads to ensure full preparedness for the upcoming FAA audit.
The assessment will focus on aircraft maintenance procedures, flight safety measures, and operational standards followed by Pakistan’s aviation sector.
Furthermore, the visiting American experts are also expected to inspect aircraft that could potentially be used for future direct flights from Pakistan to the United States.
The audit will help determine whether Pakistani carriers meet the international aviation safety and operational standards required by the FAA for direct transatlantic operations.
Moreover, this visit follows an earlier preliminary audit conducted by an FAA delegation in September, during which the U.S. team reviewed various aspects of the CAA’s regulatory framework and the maintenance systems of Pakistani airlines.
The upcoming January audit will serve as the decisive phase in evaluating Pakistan’s readiness for the reinstatement of direct flight operations.
However, the government representatives familiar with the process expressed optimism that the new audit could pave the way for the long-awaited resumption of direct flights between the two nations.
On the other hand, the Pakistan International Airlines has also started direct flights from Quetta to Iran.
In addition, if the CAA and Pakistani airlines successfully meet the FAA’s requirements, it would indicate an achievement for Pakistan’s aviation industry, increasing connectivity, trade, and people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and the United States.
