Shaheen Air does not need new licence, says court

CAA argues court has allowed SAI to continue flying only till the next hearing

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) order asking Shaheen Air International (SAI) to submit fresh documents for the renewal of its licence, according to the private-sector airline.

“SHC has specifically suspended the requirement of applying for fresh RPT [Regular Public Transport] licence ... SAI was issued the licence 26 years ago,” SAI said in a press statement. “SHC has ruled in favour of SAI.”

On April 24, the aviation authority had warned SAI that it would stop the air carrier’s operations in 45 days if it failed to provide documents for renewing its long pending RPT licence.



The suspension or stay order given by the court came after the air carrier filed a petition, pleading the court’s intervention in the matter.

“SHC has directed that CAA cannot interfere with any business operations of SAI as long as they adhere to the repayment schedule. Thus, the act of removal of aero bridge [a movable bridge placed against an aircraft door to allow passengers to embark or disembark] and punishing SAI’s passengers is now illegal. Furthermore, a lack of approval of routine new routes is also illegal,” it said.

The airline argued in the petition that it had suffered significant losses and damage to its reputation internationally as a result of mishandling of the RPT licence renewal.

New routes

The airline said it had applied for permission to fly on the Multan-Muscat route on March 20, 2017 and sent a follow-up letter on April 5. However, the CAA did not respond and it also did not raise any objections, but barred the airline from flying on the new international route on April 23.

“As per clause 352 para 2 and 3 ... a month without any objection is deemed to be approved,” the statement said. “In this case, stopping the Multan-Muscat flight from departure is illegal and unjust.”

Requests for flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Sharjah and Karachi from Faisalabad have also been sent to the CAA, but they are still pending.

The delay in issuance of route permits was causing colossal losses as idle aircraft added parking fee, lease payment and other fee to the cost, SAI said.

The airline said it had submitted a dues payment plan and promised to the CAA that the outstanding bills would be cleared by June. The CAA itself accepted the receipt of three instalments, which cumulatively were larger than that committed in the payment plan, it said.



SAI also provided documents for the SHC to counter the CAA’s claims of dues including all the recent payment plans.

“SAI provided the court with documents, showcasing it had been paying all dues for the last 24 years and the delay in payments was supported by a payment plan, which was accepted by the CAA,” it said.

CAA’s version

CAA Director Coordination and Media Management Syed Aamir Mehboob described Shaheen Air’s statement as controversial. “SHC has given no word on [SAI’s] Regular Public Transport licence,” he said.

On the contrary, he added, the court asked the airline to pay on time CAA’s dues amounting to Rs480 million.

“Subject to paying the dues on time, the airline has been asked to continue operations till the next hearing on May 8,” Mehboob said.

The CAA had already given 45 days for submission of the required documents. Renewal of the licence was the government prerogative and the authority would submit relevant documents when asked by the court, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2017.

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