Airlines

SpiceJet jet takes off from Rajkot without obtaining ATC approval.

On December 30, a SpiceJet passenger flight took off from Rajkot, Gujarat, without receiving the required approval from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC), prompting the aviation regulator DGCA to launch an investigation into the incident, officials said on Sunday. According to a SpiceJet representative, the pilots of the Rajkot-Delhi flight have been removed from the roster pending an investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to officials, the Rajkot-Delhi flight took off about 9.30 a.m. on December 30 and landed at the Delhi airport at 11:15 a.m.

Before departing from an airport, an aircraft must obtain various approvals from ATC. To push back from the aircraft stand, it must first obtain clearance. Then, before starting the engines, it must obtain permission. It must then obtain permission to stand in the line-up, and finally, authorization to take off.

The pilots failed not obtain the necessary approval from the ATC before departing from Rajkot airport on December 30, according to officials.

According to them, the DGCA is investigating the occurrence on December 30 to determine the cause.

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Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.