FAA Team Expected to Visit Pakistan in April 2025 to Review Safety Rating for Pakistani Airlines Flights to USA

[Abbas Ali]

USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) team is expected to visit Pakistan in February/March 2025.

Restoration of Pakistan safety rating by FAA to Category 1 from Category 2 is expected after FAA team's visit.

Category 1 rating means the country’s civil aviation authority complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. This rating allows air carriers from that country to establish service to the United States and to carry the code of U.S. carriers through codesharing arrangements.

Air carriers from countries with Category 2 ratings are not allowed to initiate new service to the United States, are restricted to current levels of existing service to the United States, and are not permitted to carry the code of U.S. carriers on any flights.

On July 15, 2020, FAA announced that Pakistan has been assigned a Category 2 rating because it does not comply with ICAO safety standards under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. At that time, no airline from Pakistan was operating regular scheduled flights between Pakistan and the United States.

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-revise ... wsId=25116

PIA operated its last flight from New York on October 28, 2017. The service was ended due to losses reported by the airline. At that time PIA was operating once-a-week Boeing 777 flight PK711 every Saturday from Karachi to New York via Lahore & Manchester.



Under IASA, the FAA assesses the civil aviation authorities of all countries with air carriers that have applied to fly to the United States, currently conduct operations to the United States, or participate in code-sharing arrangements with U.S. partner airlines. Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) provides aviation safety oversight for Pakistan.

After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FAA, Pakistan CAA is preparing to clear relevant fee payments to the FAA. This agreement lays the groundwork for addressing financial issues and achieving compliance.

https://www.samaa.tv/2087325538-direct- ... nistration

Abbas

[Karachi Aviator]

How come Pakistan was in category 1 in 2017 and still PIA wasn't allowed to operate non-stop flights from Pakistan to New York? Aren't airport safety ratings part of FAA's category evaluation? Because as far a I know, insufficient measures/ facilities at Pakistani airports was the reason behind not allowing Pakistani airlines to operate non-stop but the return flight was non-stop.

On a separate note, I think PIA should just codeshare for US and forget about operating to US in the near future. Focus on UK and EU operations - though its still convenient to at least get the category upgraded and get the ban to be lifted.

[Karachi Aviator]

A delegation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to visit Pakistan in March to assess the feasibility of resuming direct flights between the two countries.

According to a news report, Pakistan has paid the required $75,000 assessment fee in anticipation of the visit.

Direct flights between Pakistan and the US were halted in 2017, with efforts to restore operations facing multiple delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash in Karachi.

The situation worsened when the European Union imposed a ban on PIA, leading the FAA to downgrade Pakistan’s aviation safety rating from Category 1 (CA1) to Category 2 (CA2), making the resumption of flights more challenging.

During the pandemic, Pakistan was granted special permission to operate 12 humanitarian flights to the US, seven of which were successfully conducted. Since then, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and PIA have implemented various measures to meet international safety and regulatory standards.

A five-member FAA team will carry out a preliminary assessment next month, a crucial step toward restoring Pakistan’s aviation rating. However, final clearance from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will also be required before commercial flights can resume.

If restrictions are lifted, PIA plans to relaunch direct flights to major US destinations, including New York, Chicago, and Houston. Previously, PIA operated flights to the US with a stopover in Manchester, but the airline is now focusing on securing non-stop routes.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/202 ... ssessment/

[arshad.altaf]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2528193/fa ... us-flights

KARACHI:
A team from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is scheduled to visit Pakistan in March to assess the feasibility of resuming direct flights between Pakistan and the US.

In preparation for the visit, Islamabad has already paid the required $75,000 fee, sources have revealed.

Direct flights from Pakistan to the US were suspended in 2017 and efforts to restore them faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 PIA aircraft crash in Karachi.

Following the European Union's ban on the national carrier, the FAA downgraded Pakistan's aviation safety rating from category CA1 to category CA2, further delaying the resumption of flights.

During the Covid-19 crisis, Pakistan was granted special permission to operate 12 flights on humanitarian grounds to the US, seven of which were successfully conducted.

To pave the way for flight resumption, PIA and PCAA have taken various measures to address safety and regulatory concerns. The FAA's five-member team is expected to conduct a preliminary assessment in March, marking a crucial step toward restoring Pakistan's aviation rating. Additionally, clearance from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be required before flights can officially resume.

If the restrictions are lifted, PIA is expected to reinstate direct flights to major US cities, including New York, Chicago, and Houston. In the past, PIA operated its US flights via Manchester but efforts are now focused on establishing non-stop connectivity.

[faisal-777]

Burning question, how are they planning to do all this + UK (3 stations) + some European destinations with current fleet.

[Usman123]

Burning question, how are they planning to do all this + UK (3 stations) + some European destinations with current fleet.

Great question but we'll probably see a tender to aquire new 2-3 widebody on lease once both sectors are approved!

There is no feasibility of flying with stopover, only non stop flights can make this route profitable!
US non stop flights can be better source of income than UK, if PIA has proper business class which is missing unfortunately.

[Karachi Aviator]

There is no feasibility of flying with stopover, only non stop flights can make this route profitable!

Back in 2017, only the flights from Pakistan to New York made a stopover in Manchester whereas the return flights were non-stop. Even if PIA / CAA can return to that same position, it'll be a big achievement because I don't see the FAA clearing Pakistani airports to be fit for non-stop flights to US (despite the fact that PIA will fly nonstop to Canada, UK & EU).

Up untill 2023/24, PIA had 5× weekly flights to Toronto which is certainly a smaller market compared to New York. With improved on-board product and limited transit time, PIA can make US flights a success even with a stopover, that's what Emirates, Turkish, Qatar airways etc... have been doing. It's just that PIA has to prove to the passengers that transit with PIA is more convenient than a transit with all these carriers and at the end of the day, the return flights can be made nonstop. A stopover in Dublin, Shannon or somewhere in Canada can workout as these stations have US pre-clearence facility which can give PIA an edge over EK, QR and TK but not EY. Might as well get the immigration part done during the layover which can make PIA's flight more attractive, plus a limited layover time like 60-90 minutes max. Other factors like good departure and arrival timings, good food quality etc... can be a plus factor.

[Abbas Ali]

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the resumption of direct flights between Pakistan and USA has already been signed. Final clearance expected from US aviation authorities after FAA visit to Pakistan in March.

https://arynews.tv/pia-set-to-resume-di ... hts-to-us/

[Abbas Ali]

FAA team will conduct a comprehensive review of passenger and cargo flight operations, examining various airports, airlines, and security measures.

https://epaper.brecorder.com/2025/02/17 ... -news.html

[Abbas Ali]

Embassy of the United States in Islamabad is coordinating Transportation Security Administration (TSA)/Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) technical team visit to Pakistan in the third week of March. The US team will prepare report on safety procedures/mechanisms.

https://e.jang.com.pk/detail/852015

[Abbas Ali]

Team from USA due to arrive in Pakistan in mid-April.



Abbas