Saudi authorities warn Pakistani airlines over punctuality
Pakistani airlines face the risk of
financial penalties after repeated delays in Umrah flights, according to a
formal warning issued by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)
to Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The letter stressed that
international standards require carriers to maintain at least an 80 percent
on-time arrival rate. Recent figures show Pakistani airlines falling well below
this threshold: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at 69 percent, AirBlue at
65 percent, AirSial at 46 percent, FlyJinnah at 43 percent, and SereneAir at
just 37 percent.
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GACA urged immediate corrective action, warning that continued delays could not only result in fines but also harm passenger schedules and undermine the global reputation of Pakistani airlines.
The letter, signed by GACA’s
president and addressed to Pakistan’s DG Civil Aviation, called for urgent
coordination with local carriers to ensure timely operations, especially during
the peak Umrah travel season.
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In response, airlines are reviewing schedules and operational processes to improve punctuality and avoid potential penalties from Saudi authorities.
Source: Daily Times