Pakistan announces 'limited' resumption of domestic flight operations from Saturday

ghazi52 · May 15, 2020

Pakistan announces 'limited' resumption of domestic flight operations from Saturday

Pakistan extends suspension of international flights till May 31. — APP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday announced a "limited" resumption of the domestic flight operations from tomorrow, days after Prime Minister Imran Khan announced easing the lockdown to curb the COVID-19.

According to a notice from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the domestic flights operations were scheduled to start May 16 from five major airports in the country.

In a video statement, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan said 20% of the domestic flights would resume operations starting tomorrow (Saturday) following the final decision taken by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Thursday.

The five major airports include Jinnah International Airport, Allama Iqbal International Airport, Islamabad International Airport (IIAP), Quetta International Airport, and Bacha Khan International Airport.

Sarwar said social distancing would be followed based on the seats in the airplane and capacity to fill 50% of the seats would be maintained. "Passengers will be provided the opportunity to travel safely," he added.

The move came "in view of the difficulties being faced by passengers in travelling between major cities in Pakistan", the PCAA said on Twitter.

The minister, it added, noted that the "Aviation Division has prepared very strict SOPs ensuring disinfection, social distancing and safety for the airline crew and passengers".

PCAAOfficial@official_pcaa
https://twitter.com/official_pcaa/status/1261266708733530121

2/9 Federal Minister for Aviation Mr. Ghulam Sarwar khan has stated that Aviation Division has prepared very strict SOPs ensuring disinfection, social distancing and safety for the airline crew and passengers. Initially PIA and Serene Air will operate the domestic flights.

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8:06 AM - May 15, 2020
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PCAAOfficial@official_pcaa
https://twitter.com/official_pcaa/status/1261266592354222082

3/9 It is highlighted that the SOPs for domestic passengers and chartered flight operation require disinfection of the aircraft prior to boarding, at least one vacant seat between the passengers, compulsory wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizer.

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8:06 AM - May 15, 2020
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Apart from social distancing, other measures include "disinfection of the aircraft prior to boarding, at least one vacant seat between the passengers, compulsory wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizer". Furthermore, no food or beverages would be allowed.

PCAAOfficial@official_pcaa

4/9 No food and beverages will be allowed during domestic flight. Airlines are required to maintain emergency PPE in every aircraft to deal with any health emergency during flight.

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8:05 AM - May 15, 2020
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PCAAOfficial@official_pcaa
https://twitter.com/official_pcaa/status/1261266447214546944

5/9 Every passenger will be required to fill a health declaration form prior to boarding the aircraft, which include identification of the passenger, brief travel history during past two weeks, current health state and an undertaking to comply with the SOPs.

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8:05 AM - May 15, 2020
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Passengers would be required to fill health declaration forms before boarding the airplane and subjected to thermal scanning on entry and exit into and from a city. All luggage would be disinfected and no meet and greet would be allowed at the airport.

Drivers were advised to stay inside their respective vehicles in the parking lot.

A spokesperson for the PCAA said domestic flights would be operated by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and one private company. The national carrier's administration said tickets sales may start as early as the evening today.

However, sources informed The News that certain airlines have said they were not ready to resume domestic flight operations.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan extended its ban on the international flight operations until May 31.

PCAAOfficial@official_pcaa
https://twitter.com/official_pcaa/status/1261208967407194113

As per the decision of the GoP, the suspension of International flight operations as effected earlier has been extended upto Sunday, May 31, 2020 at 2359 hours PST. Remaining provisions as applicable to the suspension of Int flights reflected in previous orders remain unchanged.

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4:17 AM - May 15, 2020
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"Remaining provisions as applicable to the suspension of Int flights reflected in previous orders remain unchanged," the PCAA said on Twitter.

The aviation regulatory authority had previously announced an extension in domestic flight operations till May 10.

litman · May 16, 2020

all passengers must be issued with reusable PPEs. even a plastic raincoat will do the job. issued to every passenger at the entrance of air port along with a face mask. taken back at the destination terminal . similarly face shield should be provided along with surgical face mask. no meal or tea should be served during the flight. passengers must be seated at a distance from each other. the face shields and the PPE like the raincoat must be deposited at the destination air port and it should go directly for sterilization as it happens in many operation theatres. if the authoritites can provide disposable PPE then its even better but i dont think we have them in sfficient quantity. temperature checking or thermal scanning must be installed at every air port. as the temperature at the air ports and air crafts is regulated weaaring PPE shouldn't be a problem. air crafts must be throughly disinfected after each flight. passengers at the arrival must use hand sanitzer and wear gloves immediatley. and their luggage including hand carry must be disinfected and then they must be allowed to proceed.

air crafts and air ports are the easiest mode of transport that can be made functional in this crisis.