Vision Air International (Pakistan) (VIS, Karachi International) has become the first Pakistani charter airline to secure a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Third-Country Operator (TCO) permit, according to a media release by the airline. The certificate was issued on January 23.

The achievement will enable Vision Air to further grow its global charter business by offering flights to the EU and will be vital as it looks to commence scheduled operations later this year.

Vision Air's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aijaz Ali Faizi said: “Being the first charter operator and one of only two air operators in Pakistan [to have gained the certificate], the other being the national carrier [PIA - Pakistan International Airlines], is a great testament to our high standards of safety and security in all areas of operations and is a proud moment for our company.”

All non-EU commercial operators wishing to fly to the European Union are required to secure a TCO permit certifying their compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards. Such authorisation allows the operator to acquire a commercial air operations permit to EASA member states without additional permits for individual EU member states.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Vision Air has a fleet of three aircraft a single B737-200(F) and two B737-300(QC)s.