newscaster
23rd Jul 2005, 12:57
The federal government is in the final stages of finalising deregulation of international routes originating from Pakistan, official announcement regarding the plan is expected in two weeks.
The ministry has decided to allocate routes to all the private airlines operating in the country, i.e Aero Asia, Shaheen Air and Air Blue as per their requests.
It is understood that Shaheen Air has been allowed to operate four flights a week to the UK, Air Blue has been allowed eight flights while Aero Asia has been permitted twelve flights a week for UK, as per their requisitions submitted in the first meeting on the issue.
Other routes for Europe and Middle East will also be allowed to these airlines where bilateral agreements allow operation for multi designatories. Where bilateral agreements allow the operation for only one airline (like in the case of Saudi Arabia and India), the CAA has been directed to renegotiate bilateral agreements with these countries by the end of this calendar year.
While giving the carrot with one hand, the Defence Ministry has also used the stick with the other. It has decided to take action against private airlines for their non-compliance of the existing aviation policy and subjected the permission of flying on new routes with compliance on the aviation policy, sources said.
The main clauses that were not being complied with by the private airlines are the registration of the aircraft in Pakistan and operation on socio economic and tertiary routes.
According to the National Aviation Policy (NAP), all the airlines are required to operate a minimum of two frequencies a week on one socio-economic or one tertiary route.
Turbat, Skardu, Gawadar, Gilgit, Chitral, Panjgur, Pasni and Jiwani are termed as tertiary routes while Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Moenjodaro, Dera Ismail Khan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan. Zhob, Nawabshah, Saidu Sharif, Hyderabad, Jaccobabad, Ormara, Dalbandin, Khuzdar, Bannu, Rawalakot, Parachinar, Muzaffarabad and Sehwan Sharif are called Tertiary stations.
In case of not operating on the socio-economic routes in the compliance of NAP - 2000, these airlines have to pay royalty to the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines.
In case of not initializing the operation, these airlines can be penalized at the rate of Rs500,000 per month. This amount, according to the policy, should be paid to Pakistan International Airlines as the compensation.
Following the tightening of screws by the ministry of defence, Aero Asia and Air Blue have initiated operations on socio economic routes but they have to pay the remaining amount to the PIA. The penalized amount accumulated to Aero Asia and Shaheen Airways is about Rs30 million each while for Air Blue the amount is Rs5 million.
Before flying on the new routes, these airlines have to pay this amount in the present scenario.
However, this amount may not be transferred to PIA and the money would be given to the CAA instead to be adjusted against PIA dues payable to the CAA, sources said.
The second condition that has to be complied with is the registration of fleet in Pakistan.
While the government granted permission for the operation in the country to the airlines, it was mandatory to register aircraft in the country and international operation would only be allowed to those that fulfil the requirement of domestic operation.
The ministry has decided to allocate routes to all the private airlines operating in the country, i.e Aero Asia, Shaheen Air and Air Blue as per their requests.
It is understood that Shaheen Air has been allowed to operate four flights a week to the UK, Air Blue has been allowed eight flights while Aero Asia has been permitted twelve flights a week for UK, as per their requisitions submitted in the first meeting on the issue.
Other routes for Europe and Middle East will also be allowed to these airlines where bilateral agreements allow operation for multi designatories. Where bilateral agreements allow the operation for only one airline (like in the case of Saudi Arabia and India), the CAA has been directed to renegotiate bilateral agreements with these countries by the end of this calendar year.
While giving the carrot with one hand, the Defence Ministry has also used the stick with the other. It has decided to take action against private airlines for their non-compliance of the existing aviation policy and subjected the permission of flying on new routes with compliance on the aviation policy, sources said.
The main clauses that were not being complied with by the private airlines are the registration of the aircraft in Pakistan and operation on socio economic and tertiary routes.
According to the National Aviation Policy (NAP), all the airlines are required to operate a minimum of two frequencies a week on one socio-economic or one tertiary route.
Turbat, Skardu, Gawadar, Gilgit, Chitral, Panjgur, Pasni and Jiwani are termed as tertiary routes while Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan, Moenjodaro, Dera Ismail Khan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan. Zhob, Nawabshah, Saidu Sharif, Hyderabad, Jaccobabad, Ormara, Dalbandin, Khuzdar, Bannu, Rawalakot, Parachinar, Muzaffarabad and Sehwan Sharif are called Tertiary stations.
In case of not operating on the socio-economic routes in the compliance of NAP - 2000, these airlines have to pay royalty to the national flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines.
In case of not initializing the operation, these airlines can be penalized at the rate of Rs500,000 per month. This amount, according to the policy, should be paid to Pakistan International Airlines as the compensation.
Following the tightening of screws by the ministry of defence, Aero Asia and Air Blue have initiated operations on socio economic routes but they have to pay the remaining amount to the PIA. The penalized amount accumulated to Aero Asia and Shaheen Airways is about Rs30 million each while for Air Blue the amount is Rs5 million.
Before flying on the new routes, these airlines have to pay this amount in the present scenario.
However, this amount may not be transferred to PIA and the money would be given to the CAA instead to be adjusted against PIA dues payable to the CAA, sources said.
The second condition that has to be complied with is the registration of fleet in Pakistan.
While the government granted permission for the operation in the country to the airlines, it was mandatory to register aircraft in the country and international operation would only be allowed to those that fulfil the requirement of domestic operation.