ISLAMABAD (Reuters) — The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) authorisation to fly to the bloc for six months, the airline said on Tuesday, a blow to the carrier’s operations.

Separately, the safety agency said it took the action because of concerns about Pakistan’s ability to ensure compliance with international aviation standards at all times.

The suspension follows Pakistan’s grounding of 262 of the country’s 860 pilots, including 141 of PIA’s 434, whose licences the aviation minister termed “dubious”.

PIA said it would temporarily discontinue all its flights to Europe but later said it received a two-day relief with landing permission in Europe and Britain granted from July 1 to July 3. PIA is also allowed over flying until further order, the national flag carrier’s spokesman said.

The EASA also suspended the authorisation of another Pakistani airline, Vision Air International.

Following the EASA’s decision, the UK Civil Aviation Authority said it, too, was withdrawing PIA’s permit to operate from three of its airports, as required under law.