WASHINGTON: After the European Union and United Kingdom, the United States of America has also banned the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights operation to its country, after US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expressed reservations over the airlines’ pilot licenses.

Britain-based news agency, Reuters has confirmed the news quoting the US Department of Transportation. “The information is contained in a revocation of special authorisation dated July 1,” it said.

The national flag carrier grounded more than 140 of its pilots after Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar revealed that they were holding dubious licenses.

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Earlier this month, all the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) flights were temporarily banned from flying to the Europe Union and the United Kingdom for six months.

The permission had been suspended by the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA) viewing the rising number of coronavirus case as well as following surfacing of the issue of dubious licenses. “Pakistan is not capable to certify and oversee its airline operators,” said EASA.

The implementation of the suspension began at 12:00 am UTC on Jul 1, 2020.

The UK Civil Aviation Agency also suspended the PIA flight from three airports including Birmingham, London Heathrow and Manchester.