Dozens of passengers set to fly Bhoja Air cancelled their tickets on Saturday and demanded refunds in the wake of the Friday night tragedy that killed over 100 passengers.
By Saturday afternoon, more than two dozen people had asked for refunds from just one sales counter of the airline at Jinnah airport. The company was tight-lipped about the exact number of seat cancellations.
“We have been overwhelmed by people coming here for ticket refunds,” said Muhammad Umair, a sales representative at Bhoja Air’s small booth at the airport.
“I have personally refunded around Rs100,000 since morning. The other salesperson has given back almost the same amount,” he said.
The month-old Bhoja Air is still operating another 130-seat B 737-200 aircraft in a frantic effort to keep the airline operations running and a B 737-400 which can carry around 180 passengers.
Dr Shabbar walked briskly to the sales booth of another private airline after returning his Bhoja Air ticket for Islamabad. “My decision is for obvious reasons. I am worried about my safety. My family is concerned as well.”
Arsalan Akhtar, Bhoja Air’s marketing officer, declined to say how many seats were cancelled. Company spokesperson Jasir Abro could not immediately confirm the numbers either.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (5)
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@Subah:
please visit the link below:
http://www.caapakistan.com.pk/investigation.aspx
Your required Airblue crash investigation report is available there. If you still face problem in finding the report, you may call me at:
0341-2185083
My sympathies are with all the victims. Almost about two years ago a similar incident took place. Then yesterday, there was another incident of the aviation yet again. PIA is already not doing good. Then comes Air Blue,(the details of which still remain hidden), then Bhoja, and then Shaheen.(yesterday) Now we are left with only one option and that is INDUS. What a coincidence!!!!!!!!.
I think the accident was only due to the bad weather and pilot tried to land only due to the pressures on him that it was an innaugural flight. I think only the B737-200 a/c should be grounded because it is an old aircraft and spares can be a problem to obtain. B737-400 can continiue to operate for some more years. The Govt should encourage the airline management to induct the new NGs. Also the radar controllers and the ground ILS systems should be more reliable. Kathmandu is another dangerous airport to make an approach in bad weather conditions. The safety record of Nepal is also quite bad and should be made only day and high visibility minima approaches for the sake of safety. BK
I think this airline should be banned with all its aircrafts grounded with immediate effect.