Aero Asia and Shaheen Airways

[Dr747]

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=428902&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=


Edit: The cut and paste of the story contained in the above link has been removed until it is established that copyright has not been breached

[MOR]

Not sure that cutting and pasting an entire article, complete with copyright notice, is a smart idea...

Interesting news, though.

[Dr747]

here is more from the same source
Aero Asia, Shaheen Air planes remain grounded
IQBAL MIRZA
KARACHI (May 24 2006): All Aero Asia and Shaheen Air International (SAI) aircraft remained grounded for the second day on Tuesday as no agreement could be reached between the airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on payment of CAA dues.

Officials of CAA remained engaged in meetings, separately, with the representatives of the two defaulting airlines, without any result.

CAA is reported to have stood firmly on its decision that either the private carriers should clear their dues, or be prepared for rolling back their operations.

CAA presented its proposals regarding the mode of payments and Aero Asia and SAI came up with theirs, but till the close of office hours none of the airlines turned up to say that they were ready to accept CAA's formula for clearance of the dues.

In the morning, a CAA spokesman told Business Recorder: "Enough is enough. They can not take us for a ride any longer. After all, the airlines will not be paying anything from their own kitty. It is public money which they have collected through the sale of tickets and have no right to use that money somewhere else and deprive CAA of its revenues."

Private carriers had been promoted and pampered for too long. Now they should learn to stand on their feet and walk without the help of crutches, he said.

Till late in the evening, no official statement was available from CAA whether the issue had been resolved or not.

[Dr747]

According to daily jang (jang.com.pk/jang) Shaheen have paid their dues and are re-starting their opertations from tonight with their karachi-lahore flight at 2200 hrs.

[maksim]

Any latest rumours about situation with Aero Asia ?

[Dr747]

here is the lastest...
http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=430740&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate=
Aero Asia and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) continue to remain engaged in a 'battle of endurance' over the payment of dues, which has resulted in suspension of its operations, both foreign and domestic. Aero Asia continues holding its ground.

Friday was the fifth day that all its aircraft remained grounded with no immediate possibility of resuming operations. It was unlikely that CAA would bend on its decision, which paid dividends in the case of SAI.

Aero Asia is waiting for the return of Defence Secretary to plead its case before him. The Defence Secretary is on leave up to May 30. Till then it appeared prepared to sustain the loss which, according to rough calculations, would be up to Rs 2 to 3 million per day.

Aero Asia, according to aviation experts, is taking a 'blind risk' and not a 'calculated risk', because the Defence Secretary may or may not oblige it on the issue of payment, particularly at a time when SAI has made the payment to the satisfaction of CAA.

[maksim]

Quotte:

Aero Asia is waiting for the return of Defence Secretary to plead its case before him. The Defence Secretary is on leave up to May 30. Till then it appeared prepared to sustain the loss which, according to rough calculations, would be up to Rs 2 to 3 million per day.

Any progress today? Just wondering, wether it is so difficult to cut a thin slice of a pie and pay a due to CAA, or the CAA due is unfair?:ugh:

[maksim]

It seems in a few days Aero Asia will restart operations

[Dr747]

Talks with the CAA have been unfruitful and now the latest news is that Aeroasia is being Taken over by an England based group here is the news
Foreign group takes over Aero Asia
KARACHI (June 13 2006): Aero Asia International Airlines has been taken over by a multinational group that is based in England. An agreement to this effect was signed last week at the head office of Aero Asia International by Zahoor Ahmed, chairman of regal group and Yaqoob Tabani of Aero Asia.

The spokesman of the airlines, in a press release issued here on Monday said, Aero Asia International is expected to commence operation during the current week.-PR


does anyone know anything about this english group???what experience in the aviation do they have???

[Dr747]

Here is the latest on this issue...
Aero Asia resumes flights
ISHFAQULLAH SHAWL
RAWALPINDI (July 15 2006): The UK-based Regal Group has taken over Aero Asia airline with an initial investment of Rs 1 billion, and restarted its operation from Friday after suspension of service for about three months.

Its first flight arrived at Islamabad airport on Friday from Karachi with 127 passengers, including the senior management of the Regal Group.

"We have bought this airline, and to make it an effective and respectable airline would be a challenge for us", said Muhammad Younis Chaudhary, Chief Executive of Aero Asia and Haider Jalal, Deputy Managing Director of the airline, while talking to reporters at the air port.

The company has purchased the brand name, and after heavy investment in the shape of aircraft, better services and human resource development and incentives to employees, the Group would make it viable, they said, adding that at present it has four aircraft, which would be replaced within three months with five modern fuel-efficient aircraft.

"We are negotiating with different companies for purchasing Airbus 323 and 321, besides Boeing 777, 800 series aircraft," Haider said.

He said that at present the airline would emphasise on domestic operation and Middle East, while in the next six months it would enter UK, Europe and Far East as well.

The Group acquired 100 percent control of the airline from Tabani Group on June 10, the CE of airline said.

The Regal Group also reached an agreement with Civil Aviation Authority on all outstanding issues relating to previous management, he added.

The Group has already invested in a number of projects in Pakistan ranging from food processing, truck assembly, wind power and phosphate industry.

[The Real Slim Shady]

Dr 747,

AeroAsia is being restructured.

Cheers