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Flight permission delayed by Dubai Civil Aviation

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airline First direct flight from Sialkot to Dubai planned to leave on November 30 will not operate as scheduled because Dubai Civil Aviation Authorities has so far not given the required permission. Airline spokesperson said here on Thursday.

PIA had planned direct flights between Sialkot and Dubai from November 30, 2009 and had applied in October 2009 for Civil Aviation Department’s (CAD) permission from the Dubai Civil Aviation as per agreement between government of Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.

Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Pakistan and UAE allows the designated airlines of Pakistan to operate unlimited frequencies from any point in Pakistan to Dubai. Similarly, the designated airlines of UAE are entitled to operate unlimited frequencies between Dubai and Karachi. Moreover, the airlines of UAE are allowed operation of eleven more frequencies per week to three conditional gateways Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Until November 26 permission was not received by PIA to operate this sector. Due to Eid holidays it may not be possible for the CAD permission to arrive by Nov 30, hence it is not possible for PIA to operate its direct flight from Sialkot to Dubai as per schedule.

PIA is making alternate arrangements to carry 40 passengers already booked from Sialkot to Dubai and 70 passengers booked on the return sector from Dubai to Sialkot. The delay in grant of approval by the department of civil aviation Dubai has resulted in disturbing PIA’s inaugural flight and launching of the Sialkot-Dubai sector.

Other six Emirates’ of UAE have never violated the bilateral air services agreement and have always granted permission for flights to all airlines of Pakistan on tome. Although this is the first incident of delaying permission to PIA, the civil aviation authorities of Dubai have in the past denied Shaheen Air the permission to operate in Dubai.

Emirate Airline is presently operating 28 weekly flights to Karachi and eleven flights to other gateways. It has never been refused permission to increase its flights to Karachi as allowed in the bilateral air services agreement.

The Emirate Airline is, on the other hand, making efforts for gaining more traffic rights from Pakistan. staff report

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