The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has refused to extend the Regular Public Transport (RPT) License of Shaheen Air International (SAI) due to which the post-Hajj operation of the airline has been suspended.
A meeting was held on Friday between the SAI and CAA management whereby the airline requested the regulatory authority to extend its RPT License. Due to the non-payment of dues, the CAA refused to extend the license.
SAI, reporedly owes dues worth Rs.1.5 billion to the CAA. The Sindh High Court had also earlier directed the airlines to pay at least 50 per cent of its outstanding dues.
SAI Director Marketing Zohaib Hassan stated after the meeting “RPT license is automatically extended every quarter. However during the meeting today between our management and CAA, the regulator refused to extend the license thereby risking the journey of the Hujjaj that were supposed to fly with us”.
He further added “CAA had assured us that no action would be taken during the post-Hajj operation to ensure smooth management of the journey of the Hujjaj who will be coming back to their homeland after performing the blessed pilgrimage. The honourable court had also ordered the same. CAA has again violated the honourable court orders”.
Shaheen Air had four A330 and two A320 planes registered on CAA rulebook which were pre-requisites for international operation as per CAA. The suspension of license halts the post-Hajj operation of the airline.
