Shaheen Air resumes operation after payment: Aero Asia planes stay grounded

While Aero Asia aircraft remained grounded for the third day on Wednesday, Shaheen Air International (SAI) was cleared by Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to resume its domestic and international operations from 1500 hours.
The clearance letter was issued by CAA following receipt of the cheque from SAI towards payment of the outstanding dues to the satisfaction of CAA.
Aero Asia, on the other hand, was insisting that domestic private carriers should be treated at par with the national carrier, PIA, a position not acceptable to CAA.
Aero Asia's stand is that since PIA is allowed a 45 days' credit facility, the same period be allowed to other private carriers as well, instead of the suggested 15 days' time period.
CAA's argument is clear. It says that PIA is owned to the extent of 88 percent by the government, which also provides guarantee, whereas, in the case of private carriers, no such guarantee is available. It, therefore, can not be treated equally on this count with PIA. The government does not provide any such guarantee in the case of private airlines, a CAA spokesman told Business Recorder here on Wednesday.
CAA believes that some private airlines purposely allow their outstanding amount to pile up and when the amount becomes too large they ask for easy instalments pay off their dues.
But, this time they were caught on the wrong foot. The tone and temper displayed by CAA negotiators indicated that they meant business and were in no mood to show any leniency in recovering the due amount, said an insider. SAI representatives were, however, quick in realising the gravity of the situation and made the payment as desired by CAA.
Aero Asia, it appeared, was waiting for the return of defence secretary from abroad to plead its case before him. According to CAA spokesman, SAI's initiative in making the payment had weakened the case of Aero Asia and the defence secretary may find it difficult to be convinced of its arguments.
Needless to mention, it was the defence secretary who in July last year had shown good gesture in allowing the private carriers to operate on foreign routes of their choice, but so far they have failed to oblige him. Their failure confirms the belief that they lacked the resources to accept the challenge.