Shaheen Air gets reprieve from court, to continue with international flights

Muscat: Pakistani airline Shaheen Air has been allowed to continue to fly to its international destinations, including Oman, after an issue with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gave rise to concerns that its international flights would be suspended.
On July 13, Pakistan’s CAA sent a letter to Shaheen Air officials threatening to suspend the airline’s international flights, with the exception of its trips to Saudi Arabia, because it allegedly owed unpaid dues to the CAA.
However, the Sindh High Court intervened on Monday and ordered the CAA to desist from its plan to suspend Shaheen Air’s international flights.
Operations
Shaheen Air’s country manager in Oman Huzaifa Halai said that while he could not yet disclose how these developments would affect the airline’s operations in Oman, there would be clarity in the near future and the same would be communicated to
the press.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Air International (SAI) Limited’s Director for Marketing Zohaib Hassan defended the airline saying the CAA’s actions were in violation of its own rules.
“SAI has challenged the CAA letter from July 13, 2018, which was issued in breach of CAA’s own rules, particularly Rule 373 of the Civil Aviation Rules of 1994,” he said.
‘Payment plan submitted’
Hassan said that the court struck down the CAA order because Shaheen Air was able to show that it had submitted its payment plan.
“SAI’s submission of its payment plan was the basis for the court’s suspension of the CAA letter dated July 13, 2018,” he
explained.
“SAI has already acted religiously upon its payment plan and the honourable court also reaffirmed this after SAI was able to substantiate its claims.
“SAI’s operations are continuing in a normal manner,” he said. “We welcome our valued passengers on board, and we are delighted to serve our passengers in the same way that they have always supported us.”