International flight ban extended
SOME 20% OF DOMESTIC FLIGHTS RESUME OPERATION FROM 5 AIRPORTS
Assistant Editor
Good news for Pakistani passengers as domestic flight operation has resumed from five major airports in the country.
Pakistan, however, extended the suspension of regular international flights till May 31. Only special flights, cargo planes and chartered flights with prior permission are allowed to operate.
Some 20 per cent domestic flights were allowed to operate with effect from May 16 as part of the easing lockdown measures imposed due to Covid-19, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) announced on Saturday. The PCAA had earlier announced to extend the ban on domestic flights till May 29 but it allowed limited domestic flight operation following instructions from the government, which is under immense pressure from the business community to further ease lockdown to prevent further economic meltdown
Limited operation
Pakistan’s Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan in a video statement said 20 per cent of the domestic flights would resume operations starting Saturday, May 16 following the final decision taken by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).
The five major airports include Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Islamabad International Airport (IIAP), Quetta International Airport, and Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar are ready for the flight operation with safety measures in place. The domestic flight operation will also help the overseas Pakistanis to travel within the country after landing at any airport in Pakistan.
Sarwar said social distancing would be followed based on the seats in the aeroplane and capacity to fill 50 per cent of the seats would be maintained. “Passengers will be provided the opportunity to travel safely,” he added.