KARACHI: Pakistani airlines can now operate unlimited number of flights to anywhere in England including London’s busy Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, a top Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official told The News on Thursday.
An amended air services agreement has also enabled national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and private airlines Airblue and Shaheen Air to pick passengers from intermediary stops in Middle Eastern and European countries en route to UK, he said.
“England has this sort of arrangement with only a few countries,” he said, citing the air traffic congestion that the country faces especially at Heathrow and Gatwick. “Not even India has this facility.”
The agreement was struck between January 23 and 24 when Pakistani aviation authority officials led by Maj Gen Mir Haider Ali Khan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence, met their English counterpart to decide on 10 articles of an air services treaty that covers the broader European region.
It also allows English and other European airlines to operate unlimited number of flights to Pakistan from England. Under a new European Union (EU) regulation, airlines from its 27-member states can use each other’s routes, the CAA official said, requesting not to be named.
I can't imagine any other European airlines looking at running flights from the UK to Pakistan, but you never know.
Man City p3 w3 d0 l0 f4 a0 P9 - hey it may never happen again!
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4438 posts, RR: 43 Reply 1, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1729 times:
Under the agreement, Pakistani airlines can operate unlimited number of flights beyond UK but only six flights a week that allows them to pick passengers from UK for onward destinations. However, these flights cannot be run via Heathrow and Gatwick.
Airlines operating from UK will have unlimited access beyond Pakistan but they can operate only six flights in a week whereby they can pick traffic from intermediary stops on way to Pakistan.
Iluv747400 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 368 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1604 times:
What were the limitations on flights until now? (i.e., number of carriers/flights from each country)
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4438 posts, RR: 43 Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1324 times:
One hopes that this open skies deal leads to BA returning to KHI either this year or next. Tentatively, they had planned to launch KHI via MCT 6 times a week with a B 772ER but then Ms Bhutto got killed and those plans were put on hold indefinitely due to the law and order situation deteriorating in the country.
PIA too have a lot to gain with the additional LHR flight rights but finding slots at decent times is a major issue. Presently, slots after 6pm-7pm at LHR are only available for PIA to pursue which shouldn't be a problem as that would mean an afternoon departure from PAK, a late night departure from LHR to PAK which would arrive late morning back home which is ideal for O&D passengers.
If open skies is allowed to be implemented immediately then at least for the peak summer season, PIA should have one extra weekly terminator flight flown nonstop from ISB/LHE/KHI each respectively to cope with demand during the busy period.
KHI747 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 1609 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (5 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1203 times:
Quoting Behramjee (Reply 4): Tentatively, they had planned to launch KHI via MCT 6 times a week with a B 772ER but then Ms Bhutto got killed and those plans were put on hold indefinitely due to the law and order situation deteriorating in the country.
If BA ever were or are to return it surely would be the extension of one of its Gulf services but where in the world did you hear that they were about to launch KHI 6 times a week via MCT.And now after BB's assassination plans have been put on hold indefinately.Thats very specific information,whats the source?
Sponsor Message: 
From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6177 posts, 
From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4438 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 368 posts, 
From Pakistan, joined Dec 2005, 5154 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
