Asian – Dispatch

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Defense said on Wednesday that it supported the expansion of new regional carrier South Air to northern destinations, dismissing objections from aviation authorities that the airline had been licensed only to serve underserved southern regions.

During the meeting, aviation authorities and South Air management clashed over claims that the airline has shifted from its mandate of improving connectivity in underserved southern Pakistan to more profitable routes.

South Air Deputy Chief Executive Officer Mohsin Jamil said the airline was originally tourism-focused and operated two ATR-72 aircraft on wet-lease from Italy and the Maldives, with plans to add an ATR-42.

He explained that European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) restrictions, due to security concerns, prevent Italian crew from flying into Balochistan, a restive province of Pakistan marred by militancy.

As a result, one aircraft is operating northern routes between Islamabad, Gilgit, and Chitral, while the other continues serving Balochistan routes including Karachi, Gwadar, Quetta, Turbat, and Panjgur.

“We are looking to provide essential transportation services to law enforcement agencies given the security situation in Balochistan,” he told the committee.

The explanation failed to satisfy Defense Secretary Lt. Gen (retd) Muhammad Ali, who said South Air had secured expedited approvals by promising to connect regions long underserved by commercial airlines.

“As the name South in South Air suggests, they have made us believe that they would operate in southern Pakistan, where other airlines do not fly,” Ali told lawmakers. “Based on that commitment, we expedited their approval procedures, but now they are backtracking.” 

He said Pakistan needs reliable regional carriers for remote routes like Gwadar, Nawabshah, Panjgur, and Sukkur instead of focusing only on tourist hubs.

Ali proposed hiring Pakistani crew if foreign pilots refuse certain destinations. Jamil replied saying that the Italian crew cannot be replaced due to the wet-lease agreement covering aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance as a package.

The Senate committee ultimately backed the airline, saying that South Air’s name should not restrict where it operates.

“American airline does not operate only in America and Pakistan Airline does not operate within the country so if the airline is named South Air, it does not restrict it operate only in South,” Senator Farooq H. Naik said during the meeting.

Committee Chairman Senator Talha Mahmood also supported the airline’s plan to operate flights to northern destinations, especially Chitral, which he said has long been neglected by carriers.

Despite differing views, South Air said its long-term strategy was to improve connectivity to underserved airports across Pakistan.

“Our focus is to operate at under-served airports,” Jamil said. “We want to operate in under-served areas of Pakistan.”

South Air expects to begin commercial flights to Chitral and Skardu by the end of June, pending final regulatory approval. It launched its first trial flight service from Karachi to Gwadar in May. 

Aviation officials told the committee that safety standards should not be compromised, urging that all mandatory procedures be completed before operations begin.

Source: Arab News