Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) appointed Khurram Mushtaq as acting CEO on Thursday as it gears up to resume European operations. Flights are expected to restart within three to four weeks, beginning with Paris, following the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) decision to lift a three-year ban.
The airline, which plans to appoint a permanent CEO, announced Mushtaq’s temporary role after the tenure of Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat ends. Mushtaq previously oversaw PIA’s Commercial, Airport Services, and Security departments.
The EASA had suspended PIA’s European operations in 2020 due to concerns over Pakistan’s compliance with international aviation standards. The UK also halted PIA flights after an inquiry into pilot licenses was launched following a crash that claimed 97 lives.
The ban cost PIA Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue. With the government planning to sell a 60% stake in the carrier, lifting the ban is seen as a crucial step toward recovery.