CAA oblivious to air accord violations by Gulf carriers

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is turning a blind eye to the violations of bilateral air agreements by airlines, particularly Gulf carriers by picking up sixth freedom traffic from Pakistan. Bilateral agreements allow only third and fourth freedom, ie, Origin and Destination (O&D) traffic, but the Gulf carriers pick up passengers for their hub from where they are transferred on their flights to destinations in UK and USA.
The CAA appears finds itself helpless in protecting the interests of Pakistani airlines operating, or have shown interest in expanding their network in the Gulf region. The recent example is that of Pakistani private sector carrier, Air Blue, which was allowed landing rights by the Department of Civil Aviation, Sharjah, but suddenly the permission was put on hold resulting in heavy losses to the airlines. The Air Blue had planned to operate to Sharjah with their newly acquired Airbus A-319 from August 14, and had made extensive marketing in this regard.
According to information available here one of the main reasons for this turn around by the Sharjah Department of Civil Aviation was that it had asked for an increase in the frequency for Air Arabia which is operating six flights a week to Pakistan for another six flights. The Air Arabia is Sharjah-based cheapest regional airline, which is fast spreading its wings to catch up with other Gulf carriers.
Air Blue Managing Director Syed Nasir Ali told Business Recorder here on Thursday that following the disruption of planned flights to Sharjah, he visited Abu Dhabi and Muscat and secured landing rights from their Civil Aviation departments. The Air Blue will now start operating four weekly flights to Abu Dhabi from August 24 from Lahore and three weekly flights between Lahore and Muscat from September 15.
He said the Air Blue has acquired two Airbus A-319 from a US carrier - Skybus, which went bust on dry lease. These aircraft, which are as good as brand new, would operate on Abu Dhabi and Muscat sectors. Not only the Pakistani private sector carriers, even the national carrier feels strongly about the revision of CAA''s policy of deregulation which must be drawn up on the basis of reciprocity to protect the siphoning off traffic, which is badly hurting the interests of these airlines.