Pakistan's private airline warned to resume operations of grounded fleet
The Pakistan Civil Aviation
Authority (PCAA) has issued a strict warning to Serene Air, instructing the
airline to return its grounded aircraft to service or risk sanctions, including
the potential suspension of international operations.
According to PCAA details, four of
Serene Air’s seven aircraft are currently out of operation, disrupting flight
schedules and causing significant passenger inconvenience. Director General
PCAA, Nadir Shafi Dar, confirmed that a show-cause notice had been issued,
requiring the airline to adjust its domestic schedules to accommodate the
reduced fleet.
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“Passenger complaints about flight
schedule disruptions led us to take action,” Dar explained, adding that the
PCAA is closely monitoring the airline’s progress. During a recent meeting with
Serene Air management, the PCAA urged the airline’s CEO to restore the grounded
planes to operational status within the month.
Dar warned, “If Serene Air fails to
make its grounded aircraft operational, we will consider suspending their
international operations.” However, Serene Air’s CEO, retired Air Vice Marshal
Muhammad Safdar Khan, denied receiving any show-cause notice. He acknowledged a
meeting with the DG on October 23, 2024, in which he clarified that the
grounding was due to engine issues beyond the airline’s control.
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Khan noted that maintenance
facilities for Boeing 737 engines are experiencing long delays, with waiting
times exceeding two months. “We’ve sent four engines to Finland and expect one
aircraft to resume service in the coming days,” he said, projecting a full
return to operations within three months.
Despite these setbacks, Khan
outlined expansion plans, including adding wide-body aircraft to Serene Air’s
fleet within the next three to five years. He emphasized the airline’s
commitment to its workforce, noting that Serene Air was the only regional
carrier to avoid layoffs during the post-Covid financial downturn. Meanwhile,
the PCAA signaled that continued non-compliance could lead to increased
regulatory scrutiny, especially as the authority undergoes a significant
restructuring.
Source:
Business Recorder