Pakistan

CAA rejects Shaheen Air's allegations about new routes delay

Shaheen Air claimed CAA had not responded to its request for permission to fly on the Multan-Muscat route

News Desk May 13, 2017

The CAA says under its rules, airlines need a specific approval of new routes prior to operations. PHOTO: Express

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday rejected the Shaheen Air International's (SAI) claim that the former was responsible for a delay in the flight operations on new routes.

On May 2, the Sindh High Court had suspended a CAA order asking the SAI to submit fresh documents for the renewal of its licence, according to the private-sector airline.

The airline had also said the regulator had not responded to its request for permission to fly on the Multan-Muscat route, blaming the latter for the delay in the issuance of route permits.

"[The] CAA strongly sets aside SAI allegations about the recent woes, distress and agony of passengers being caused by the regulator," the authority said in a statement.

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"The regulator will take measures that no inconvenience or hardship is caused by SAI's irresponsible behaviour of selling tickets of unsanctioned new routes despite no permission by Sindh High Court (SHC) in this regard," it added.

"Such allegations [are an attempt to] cover up the airline's incompetence and inability to work according to the standard operating procedure."

The CAA said under its rules, airlines needed a specific approval of new routes prior to operations.

"Starting up a new and unauthorised international route cannot be construed as a routine timetable change," it said.

"The sale of tickets for unauthorised routes is not only a violation but also misleads passengers into buying tickets. It becomes a scam for innocent potential passengers who are unaware of the ground realities," the authority maintained.

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The regulator went on to add the airline was "trying to mislead the general public by depicting extreme mismanagement and violation of rules and regulations".

"The SAI has time and again tried to twist the facts to shift the blame of its mismanagement, inefficiency and lawlessness on CAA."

The authority said the airline had failed to meet the codal formalities for the renewal of its license, which it must do within 45 days in the best interest of safety and rights of the travellers.

At present, Shaheen Air flies to seven domestic and 13 international destinations.