Pakistan

CAA asks Shaheen Air to stop using 25-year-old aircraft after Saudi Arabia denies entry

Saudi civil aviation turned back Shaheen's Boeing 767 claiming it did not meet the kingdom’s aviation regulations

Saad Hasan April 11, 2015

PHOTO: EXPRESS

Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) asked on Saturday Shaheen Air to stop using a 25-year-old aircraft after it was denied entry into Saudi Arabia’s airspace.

Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation turned back Shaheen's Boeing 767 claiming it did not meet the kingdom’s aviation regulations.

"The aircraft was wet leased from Jordan and is around 25 years old," the official said.

According to media reports, the airline failed to produce the required documents leading authorities to bar it from landing in Saudi Arabia.

However, Shaheen Air had reportedly applied for the necessary documents in advance but their request was rejected.

"Shaheen leased the jet under a previous aviation policy, which had no age limit."

Recently, Pakistan announced a new aviation policy which bars local airlines from using aircraft aged over 20 years. The new policy has technically come into effect but its formal implementation will start after the national budget is announced in the month of June.

"Shaheen had been warned by Saudi Arabian authorities but they didn’t listen. This was bound to happen," the offical added.

Private carrier Shaheen wet leased the B-767 from a Jordanian airline.

COMMENTS (21)

Sucable | 9 years ago | Reply a 25 yrs old aircraft is owned by Pak, breaking Paks law (even though implementation is pending) and rejected entry into KSA where it is also illegal to fly. Everyone here seems getting this as a political reaction! its a plane that is no longer safe to fly! KSA should be applaud for doing this and more pressure at home is needed. its amazing to see that many Shaheen flight prices are comparable to far better gulf carries ... This is Shaheen faults, they caused it and they deserve it..

Hani Syed (hasy1000) | 9 years ago | Reply @hm: Best comment. Precise

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Lord of the Ring | 9 years ago | Reply After Saudi Arabia denies entry Otherwise they were OK with the "Shaheen" endangering the lives of common Pakistani passengers

Ibrar | 9 years ago | Reply @Bewildered: No matter how close, friends must rationalise expectations. This is the time to prove friendship. Pakistan must participate in defending Saudi territory only if there is a genuine threat otherwise Pakistan should also , as a friend, try and persuade Saudis from being senseless aggressor towards Yemen. Pakistan should also use its influence, now that the US is less hostile, to persuade Iran to refrain from any activity that poses any real threat to Saudis. Pakistan undoubtedly is having to walk on a tight rope but nothing comes without some pain. It should remain on a coarse which it thinks is right but before it can show its effectiveness and credibility to the world it must clean up its internal mess and those who have illegally taken Pakistani wealth out of the country should bring it back and stop begging from others.... we will see that , this done, an ordinary Pakistani will have his confidence restored allowing him to honestly invest in country' s progress. If government and opposition are serious they should agree on some very basic mechanisms such as tax collection and developmental projects. Not easy though.

scotchpak | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistanis need more exit points for travellers. At present we have UAE and Doha both to the south and both have obnoxious visa policies. We should talk to our nortthern states, even Moscow. Certianly Moscow is a natural hub unlike UAE and DOHA which are off-the-route places to begin. Off-Route Hubs exiisted in the past because of US/Saudi hegemony. There is good money in handelling passangers even if they are from poor countries.

Aamir | 9 years ago | Reply Dear UAE, Instead of threatening Pak for not sending Army, I wish you could threaten Israel for killing Arabs for 60 years

Dipak | 9 years ago | Reply Saudis might be right. A 25 year old Boeing 767 is airworthy only if Boeing approves of the maintenance of the plane. Pakistan, especially Shaheen Airlines, is not capable of maintaining this kind of aircraft. Look at Iran. They fly planes 35-40 year old planes but most countries do not allow such aircrafts to fly in their territory.

Aamir | 9 years ago | Reply Instead of threatening Pak for not sending Army, I wish you could threaten Israel for killing Arabs for 60 years.

Aamir | 9 years ago | Reply Dear UAE Minister, You can't fight one tribe of Houthis and here you are threatening one complete nation? Keep these threats to yourself

Karachi 3 | 9 years ago | Reply Empire strikes back..........

Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply @Bewildered: Come on, there are no friends here. It is not like a bunch of 16 year olds playing friends-friends. Just personal interests. Pakistanis should know a little more about "Muslim Ummah". What has Ummah done on the Kashmir issue? Has Pakistan ever blackmailed SA? Like UAE is already. Our forces are for Rent for these Arabs? If this is your friend then who will be your enemy?

S Chaudhury | 9 years ago | Reply Saudi is the aggressor not victims & should be held to account for their crimes. Do not forget Israel is behind Saul’s to perpetrate these crimes Pakistan's army should not be for hire & fighting war against another Muslim country

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply @TN: When Iran has repeatedly denied any role in Yemen conflict, then why Pakistan should bother about it. Iran is involved in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain and other Arab States but we haven't objected it then why it should object our involvement in other countries.

hm | 9 years ago | Reply When you make a right decision morally, you are tested on it. The rewards are long term with short term grievances. The nations that rule the world had to go through the same thing. Defending a decision forces you to clean your house and become more efficient. The CAA and airlines are being forced to up their game and we shall.

Ali Mujtaba | 9 years ago | Reply If that's the case, then the axe will also fall on PIA's A310-300s which are almost 25 years old.

istaburg | 9 years ago | Reply All the wrong decision.... the Nawaz sharif Govt.. is quite skilled at getting it self into a hairy tangle !!.... what is funny is that no stern statement came out when they refused to condemn the Dec 16 school attack.... or when ever some Pakistani is wronged by UAE or Saudi ( on a regular basis). The treat us as we should be .... like a rent a car !!

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Who owns Shaheen Air?

TN | 9 years ago | Reply There are no friends between nations -- all look for their own interests. We cannot afford a hostile Iran as we are already have committed our troops on Afghan and Indian borders and also fighting the terrorists. Yes -- me may face some economic problems from our so called Arab friends but fighting on another front is not possible. Saudis and their supporters cannot sustain a long war. Remember in 1979 when few hundred individuals took over the Holy Kaaba -- it was Pakistanis and French troops that got it cleared.

Zubair Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Could be first reaction not to support Saudi led colation?

Bewildered | 9 years ago | Reply First trailer of what might be coming in the future when you betray your closest friend. Next might be some technical/legal glitch in sending $5 billion remittances to Pakistan. You simply cannot flirt with your friend's enemy and expect your friend wouldn't mind.

kaami | 9 years ago | Reply Reason is resolution of parliament.

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