ISLAMABAD: In a major development for Pakistan’s aviation industry, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has suspended the Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) of Serene Air (Pvt) Limited with immediate effect after the airline was found in violation of mandatory regulatory requirements.
According to an official notification issued by the PCAA on Thursday, Serene Air has “failed to comply with the regulatory requirement of maintaining the prescribed minimum fleet size” and currently has zero serviceable aircraft available for operations. The authority declared that the airline was “incapable of sustaining the operational capacity required to conduct safe air operations,” thus rendering it unfit to continue services under aviation safety regulations.
The suspension covers both AOC No. AOC-031/16-AL and AOC-032/17-CH previously issued to Serene Air. The PCAA has directed the airline to immediately surrender its certificates to the Directorate of Flight Standards for endorsement.
The decision effectively grounds Serene Air, which has been struggling in recent months amid reports of financial troubles, grounded aircraft, and operational disruptions. Industry experts say the suspension marks a serious blow to Pakistan’s already fragile aviation sector, where airlines have faced mounting challenges due to rising fuel costs, dollar shortages, and regulatory scrutiny.
Passengers who had bookings with Serene Air are now left in limbo, as the suspension means the airline cannot legally operate flights until it fulfills the regulatory requirements and restores its fleet to airworthy condition.
Aviation insiders warn that unless Serene Air secures immediate financial and operational backing, its return to the skies could be severely delayed, raising concerns about job losses, consumer refunds, and shrinking competition in Pakistan’s domestic aviation market.
“The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the Air Operator Certificate of Serene Air due to the unavailability of its serviceable aircrafts. The case for reinstatement of the Air Operator Certificate will be reviewed once the airline makes its aircraft available for operation,” PCAA said in an official communication.
“Operations have been temporarily suspended due to prolonged unserviceability of the fleet. One aircraft is expected to return from C-check by October 12, while another, damaged by a bird strike in Jeddah, should be repaired within a few days. The remaining aircraft are awaiting engine replacements, which are already in the pipeline,” said sources at Serene Air.
