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PAKISTAN . Aviation & Airports

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Civil Aviation Issues Airline License to Alvir Airways

Alvir Airways intends to start flight operations with Embraer ERJ145 and E190 aircraft under Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration (TPRI) license issued by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).


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Pakistan to ease restrictions on inbound flights from 10th:

Says Afghans entering Pakistan via border terminals do not require vaccination certificates

Our Correspondent
November 03, 2021


ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday said Pakistan will relax restrictions on inbound flights from November 10 amid a “downward trend” in coronavirus infections across the globe.

In a statement, the high-level forum said the decision to relax Covid-related restrictions was taken after the enforcement of obligatory vaccination for inbound travellers.

According to the NCOC, “Inbound air traffic will operate at full quantum with effect from November 10.”

The government has placed Armenia, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Iraq, Mexico, Mongolia, Slovenia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine in Category ‘C’ due to low vaccination and high positivity rate.

The NCOC also placed Russia, Iran, Ethiopia, Germany, the Philippines and Afghanistan in high-risk states. They will be “continuously monitored” but no restrictions will be imposed on them.

Meanwhile, the countries that aren’t mentioned in Category ‘C’ have been placed in Category ‘B’, it said, adding that there will be no restrictions on travellers coming from these states.

Testing protocols

After November 5, 100 per cent vaccination is required for all inbound passengers. It said all passengers aged six and above should have a negative PCR test report (max 72 hours old) before boarding.

The NCOC has abolished rapid antigen tests (RAT) for inbound passengers. However, people coming from Category ‘C’ states via direct flights will have to undergo this test, the NCOC statement said, adding that “selective flights/symptomatic passengers from Category ‘B’ countries will also undergo RAT”.

According to the NCOC, the testing protocols are applicable for all inbound passengers entering Pakistan via border terminals, except those coming from Afghanistan.

Similarly, Afghans can travel to Pakistan through border terminals without vaccination certificates and PCR. However, they will undergo stringent testing/quarantine protocols already in place, it added.
 
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Airline fares go through the roof as countries ease curbs

Zulqernain Tahir
November 5, 2021


Citizens are seen at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. — AFP/File


Citizens are seen at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. — AFP


LAHORE: In a bid to apparently recover losses sustained because of the pandemic restrictions, domestic and foreign airlines have almost doubled fares to destinations such as Dubai, the US and Europe.

Some of the reasons cited by airline officials behind the massive increase in fares are the influx of passengers after foreign destinations lifted coronavirus travel restrictions, increase in fuel prices and devaluation of the rupee.

“For Dubai, the national flag carrier (PIA) is charging over Rs90,000 for an economy class return ticket and foreign airlines about Rs110,000,” an airline official said in conversation with Dawn on Thursday.
Hotel rents in Dubai, Turkey and elsewhere have also shot up
“Similarly, the economy class return ticket for the UK is between Rs280,000 and Rs350,000. A one-way economy class ticket for the US costs over Rs160,000,” he said, adding that an economy class return ticket for Istanbul was priced over Rs100,000.

“There are different reasons behind such a huge increase in airline fares. As countries are opening up after Covid-19 restrictions, passengers stuck here are flying out. Fuel prices have shot up and the Pakistani rupee is fast losing its value. So the domestic and foreign airlines are looking at it as an opportunity to compensate for losses they earlier suffered because of the pandemic,” the official remarked.

Another official said Dubai’s fare increased more than double because of the Expo 2020 and T20 Cricket World Cup under way, and airlines were booked to capacity. “Even hotel and apartment rents in Dubai, Turkey and elsewhere have shot up,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2021
 
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PIA Country Manager Qadir Bux Sangi said Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has opened flight bookings for passengers traveling the Islamabad-Xian and Beijing-Islamabad routes.

"China Civil Aviation has approved PIA Winter schedule for China effective from November 01, and passengers can now buy tickets online or through travel agents for single or round trips from Pakistan to China and China to Pakistan," he told APP. He, however, informed that all the passengers would have to strictly adhere to all conditions and restrictions imposed by the Chinese government in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic including nucleic tests and quarantine, etc.

Qadir Bux Sangi informed that the national flag carrier would be operating one flight per week on ISB-XIY-BJS-ISB, PK854 ISB-XIY on Saturdays and return PK855 BJS-ISB on Sundays. "All the passengers traveling from Pakistan to China will be carried from Pakistan to Xian and from Beijing Capital Airport to Pakistan while Xian-Beijing leg will be operated as a ferry," he added.
"He said that since there is a break in the journey at Xian-Beijing leg, therefore RT ticket will be of PAK-Xian and then Beijing-Pakistan therefore, the passengers will have to arrange for their own transportation from Xian to Beijing.

Similarly, the ex-China RT ticket will be of BJS-Pakistan and then Pakistan-Xian. Same needs to be clarified to passengers while issuing the ticket," he added.

The PIA Country Manager informed that efforts were being made to get permission for other routes including PIA flights on the Islamabad-Xian-Islamabad section, adding, "If approval is granted by the Chinese government, the airfare for passengers traveling from Pakistan to China will significantly be reduced."
 
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Afghanistan's Ariana Airlines begins flights from Kabul to Islamabad

Reuters
November 11, 2021


A model of an Ariana Afghan Airlines jet is seen in front of the international airport in Kabul on September 5. — Reuters



A model of an Ariana Afghan Airlines jet is seen in front of the international airport in Kabul on September 5. — Reuters

Ariana Afghan Airlines is beginning regular twice-weekly services from Kabul to Islamabad, the state-owned operator said on Thursday, joining Kam Air which has begun flying five times a week between the two cities.

Ariana, which began regular services to Dubai this week, will operate flights between Kabul and Islamabad on Thursdays and Mondays, charging $400 from Kabul and $100 from Islamabad.

Earlier this week, privately-owned Kam Air started services five times a week to Islamabad as international air traffic gradually reopens following the Taliban's seizure of power in Kabul in August.

The announcement from Ariana came as the Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was visiting Islamabad for talks.

Some charter services have been flying to Kabul since the Taliban takeover but normally scheduled commercial flights had been suspended.

With an economy in deep crisis and continuing concerns about Afghanistan's future under the Taliban, there has been huge demand from people wishing to leave Afghanistan, made worse by repeated problems at land border crossings into Pakistan.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suspended its charter service to Kabul from Islamabad last month, citing interference from Taliban authorities, who had warned the airline it should cut its ticket prices.
 
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The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has launched an app for identifying and reporting hazards, risky incidents, accidents and safety issues witnessed during air travel directly to the authority, it emerged on Thursday.

The Android app, called the “Voluntary Hazard/Incident Reporting System”, is available on the Google Play store.

According to a statement issued by the PCAA, the app covers a wide range of reporting areas, including "hazard, incident, accident, damage, deficiency, violation, failure and services".

"The aim of the hazard/incident reporting app is to provide an easy, user-friendly [and] adequate platform/resources to the general public and aviation stakeholders for proactive/reactive identification and reporting of hazards/incidents and safety issues directly to the PCAA," the statement says.

It adds that the app can be used to report any hazard or incident that may risk the safety of an aircraft and its operations, and operations at airports.

"The person reporting [the hazard or the incident] may also upload files, pictures, etc, along with [a] narrative in the support of his/her report as evidence," the statement reads, saying the disclosure of identification of the reporter or informer will be optional.

The application is part of efforts by the authority's director general "to invite general public/air passengers/ aviation stakeholders to become part of the aviation [sector's] safety culture", it adds.

"[The] PCAA firmly believes [that] aviation safety is everyone's responsibility and always gives due importance to aviation safety-related issues and remains continuously engaged to enhance aviation performance and quality," the statement says.

According to the statement, a hazard reporting form is also available on the PCAA's website.
 
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Officials in Islamabad said that Pakistan would train Afghan aviation personnel in air traffic control and airport operations.

The Afghan government requested the assistance during a recent visit of its foreign minister to Islamabad, Pakistani officials said.

Afghanistan’s Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made his first visit to Pakistan last week and discussed enhanced trade, cross-border movement and regional connectivity with top officials.

The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement earlier this week that the two sides also agreed Pakistan would provide professional training to Afghan aviation personnel.
 
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Skardu airport to operate international flights from December 2

Dawn.com
December 1, 2021


A view of a runway of the Skardu Airport. — Picture courtesy: PCAA/Twitter


The wait for upgradation of the Skardu airport is finally over as the airport has been elevated to international status and will begin operations under the new identity from Dec 2 (Thursday), the Civil Aviation Authority announced in a tweet on Wednesday.

The agency said the airport's initial operations will be conducted under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) only.

Under the VFR, an aircraft is intended to operate in visual meteorological conditions (i.e. nice and clear weather). Clouds, heavy precipitation, low visibility, and other adverse weather conditions should be avoided under the VFR, according to the ATP Flight School.

In January 2020, Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan had announced the decision to upgrade Skardu airport to international standards.

The upgradation of the airport included the construction of a new runway, new terminal building, apron and provision of other facilities to cater to international flight operations.

The minister had also said at the time that the Skardu airport was listed among the world's highest altitude airports, adding that it had become one of the busiest airports in Pakistan.
Sarwar had underlined that a plan was also afoot to expand the Gilgit airport, adding that options were being explored to construct a new airport in Gilgit.
 
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Foreign Airline Wants to Start Direct Tourist Flights to Skardu


Fly dubai, a budget airline owned by the UAE government, has submitted an application to Pakistani authorities, seeking to start flights to Skardu International Airport.

According to details, the executive committee of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will meet in the coming days to review and decide on the application of flydubai.

If the CAA approves the application, flydubai will become the first international airline to operate flights to and from Skardu International Airport, which received the status of an international airport last week
 
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PM Imran inaugurates Skardu International Airport and Jaglot-Skardu road

Dawn.com
December 16, 2021


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Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday inaugurated the Skardu International Airport and Jaglot-Skardu road during a day-long visit to the region.

The airport in Skardu was previously only operational for domestic flights. However, its status was elevated on December 2 as it began welcoming international flights as well.

While addressing a large crowd at Municipal Stadium Skardu, the prime minister said the facility's elevation to an international airport would bring untold changes for the locals.

The premier said that GB had the "most beautiful mountain scenery in the world" but lamented that people did not know enough about it because travel was difficult.

He predicted that tourists, including overseas Pakistanis and domestic tourists, would arrive in large numbers after the upgrade to the airport as well as the road.

"Tourism can become a big asset of Pakistan," he said, adding that if Switzerland could generate $70 billion from tourism then Pakistan could also generate substantial income from tourism all year long. "We can make at least $30-$40 billion from tourism just in GB," he said.

The prime minister also highlighted religious tourism and the potential of untapped coastal belt. "We have not taken benefit of the blessings that God has granted us," he said.
 
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The European Union is expected to lift a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after an International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) validation committee cleared a safety audit report on the Pakistani flag carrier, local media reported.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had suspended the authorization of PIA to operate in EU member countries in July 2020 over licensing and flight safety concerns.

The licensing scandal tainted Pakistan’s aviation industry and the country grounded 262 airline pilots suspected of dodging their exams following checks of their qualifications.

An ICAO audit team visited Pakistan to undertake a safety audit of the aviation authority and completed the process on December 10, the Dawn newspaper reported. However, its final report would be released in a few weeks and the Significant Safety Concerns (SSC) would be gradually eased out
 
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1980's

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Pakistan International Airlines Boeing B707-340C-H AP-AWY landing RW24 at Luqa on 17 March 1974. With Air Malta about to start operations with two B720s leased from PIA in just two weeks time, this flight brought spare parts, tools and technical personnel. However it was a regular flight to Heathrow, with an enroute stop at Luqa.

© Malta Airport Movements By John Visanich
 
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