ISLAMABAD: The government has once relaxed policy for new airline AirSial which is expected to launch flight operations in the current year, local media reported.
The licence to AirSial for flight operations was awarded by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government. However, the airline has not been able to comply with the conditions for obtaining the Air Operator Certificate before launching flight operation.
Earlier, the federal cabinet had waived off non-conformance charges that were levied on Air Sial –a Sialkot-based airline– after it failed to acquire the Air Operation Certificate (AOC) within the stipulated time of two years and gave a go-ahead to the newly-launched airline to start operations.
According to documents, under para 4.3.1 of the National Aviation Policy (NAP) 2019,” If an operator (RPT/Non-RPT) fails to obtain AOC within a maximum of two years’ time-frame from the date of issuance of its respective licence, then a 10 per cent of the total security deposit will be levied as non-conformance charge. The deposit will be refunded and the company will have to apply again for the new licence again.
However, the Aviation Division through a summary dated January 6, 2020, sought from the federal cabinet to grant approval for relaxation in policy for not forfeiting the security deposit of the Air Sial, which was subsequently approved.
The Aviation Division had informed the cabinet that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has forwarded the request of M/s Air Sial for renewal of its Regular Public Transport (RPT) License with effect from September 5, 2019. It was further informed that Air Sial was issued an RPT License in 2017, but the company could not obtain the AOC within two years.
As per the documents, the CAA provided details of efforts made by the company to complete regulatory requirements and obtain aircraft by finalising Letter of Intent (LoI) with M/s AerCap based in Ireland. The company has also affixed a copy of the confirmation letter for the lease of three Airbus A320 aircraft and expected deliveries by May 2020.
