Five airline operators, together with Pakistan International Airline (PIA), have been served with notices by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for cancelling scheduled home flights.
“It has come to our notice through various public complaints/feedback forums that airline operators engaged in the operation of scheduled domestic flights within Pakistan have been cancelling confirmed scheduled domestic flights,” the aviation authority mentioned in an announcement issued on Tuesday.
It added that these airways have been doing this on the pretext of operational causes and, thereafter, utilising plane for the conduct of worldwide chartered operations in lieu of scheduled home flights.
The assertion added that in gentle of the above-stated cancellation of 383 flights — from October 1 to October 18 — depicting a complete proportion of 33.4%, “the Competent Authority before to withhold all international chartered flight permissions forthwith.”
“Prior to requesting any permission for international chartered flights, airline operators will submit an undertaking to this office that domestic flight schedule approved for any ongoing scheduling season(s) will be operated with a minimum flight regularity and punctuality of 90% and 80% respectively,” it added.
The CAA clarified that cancellation of home flights, if any, will solely be made consequent upon technical causes or drive majeure circumstances.
Moreover, it additional added that flight cancellations on the pretext of technical causes will solely be allowed topic to its affirmation from the Airworthiness Directorate.
“Commercial interest in operating international flight operations may be enticing in the current times but it is the duty of Pakistan CAA to uphold the spirit of public convenience and necessity,” it mentioned.