Domestic airlines want cancellation of Fly Jinnah permit

Domestic airlines in Pakistan sought time to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan after the CAA allowed foreign airline Air Arabia's Pakistan chapter named ‘Fly Jinnah’ to enter the domestic flights market, reported 24NewHD TV channel. 

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Air Transport has issued a permit to the Fly Jinnah airline.

Fly Jinnah will operate domestic and international flights from Pakistan.

Fly Jinnah got approval from the federal government three weeks ago.   

Sources said that PIA and another domestic airline will lose their share if Fly Jinnah would be allowed to operate flight operations from Pakistan. 

Such competition between domestic airlines is called cabotage defined as ‘non-remunerated not-for-hire flight between two points within a foreign country.’

Domestic airlines wanted to convey their concerns over the permit issued to the Fly Jinnah. 

Airlines questioned that were PIA and other Pakistani airlines were allowed to operate domestically in the U.S and Saudi Arabia. 

It is pertinent to note that PIA foreign routes are already closed after the statement made by Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan on the suspicious licenses of pilots. 

As per the report, Fly Jinnah is a project of Sharjah-based carrier Air Arabia which has announced recently to jointly set up a low-cost passenger airline that will initially serve domestic routes.

Reporter Usman Javed