Inactivity of Bahawalpur airport causes loss to Pakistan’s aviation sector
Bahawalpur Airport has been
non-operational for over a year, with the last flight, operated by Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) to Karachi, occurring in 2023.
Currently, no airlines, including
PIA, offer flights to or from Bahawalpur, leading to significant inconvenience
for local travelers.
Despite the suspension of
operations, over 60 employees of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) remain
stationed at the airport. Documents reveal that the CAA incurs annual losses
exceeding Rs 200 million due to the airport’s inactivity.
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Sources also indicate that airport
management and staff have been largely absent from their duties. For the fiscal
year 2023-24, more than Rs 170 million has been allocated for employee
salaries, with an additional Rs 30.5 million set aside for maintenance and
administrative costs.
Previously, Bahawalpur Airport hosted flights to destinations such as Karachi and Jeddah.
Source: ARY News