The Sindh High Court has extended its stay order on Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) request for a fresh Regular Public Transport (RPT) License to Shaheen Air International (SAI). The hearing was presided over by Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan. Moreover, the court did not acknowledge claims put forward by CAA regarding Hajj flights and nonpayment of dues by SAI.
The case was further adjourned for hearing at a later date. Previously, the aviation regulator had asked the airline company to apply for a fresh RPT license, while withdrawing the aerobridge facility, thereby irking SAI passengers. The SHC had issued a stay order against CAA’s directive on 5th May, 2017 effectively suspending the regulator’s demand to submit documents within 45 days.
The court had also restored use of the aerobridge facility withdrawn by CAA. On the same day, SAI was also granted permission to carry out its international flight operations from Multan and Faisalabad. Both these cities were to see inaugural flights to new destinations on 23rd April and 2nd May, respectively, but were barred by the CAA without assigning any reason causing huge distress to Pakistani passengers.