The aviation sector will get annual relief up to Rs4 billion under New Aviation Policy (NAP), 2019, said secretary aviation. Speaking at a press briefing held at Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) headquarter, secretary aviation/DG PCAA Shahrukh Nusrat said that NAP, 2019, which is aimed at promoting aviation sector through ease of doing business, would provide up to Rs. 4 billion relief to the airlines operators especially on domestic sector as aeronautical charges and others had almost been exempted on domestic operations.
"Although it is difficult to review bilateral air services agreements, we will do it with the governmental support and talks in this regard with Qatar Airways will be commenced next week," he said and added that with the approval of federal cabinet, the airport service operations and regulation are going to be separated.
Furthermore, secretary aviation said that this was the first time in the history when all stakeholders were taken on board for drafting NAP, 2019 and for its implementation, the first ever meeting of aviation oversight committee had been convened with them on April 27, 2019.
He ruled out the possibility of reducing Hajj quota after Shaheen Airline (SAI) closure, saying that deliberations were made and the SAI Hajj quota would now be shared by PIA, Saudi Airline and Air Blue.
He said that new aviation policy had been promulgated and Air Navigation Orders (ANOs) were going to be issued, shortly.
Moreover, he said that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had also consented to slash its Federal Excise Duty (FED) on domestic and international tickets and deliberations on the exemption of other duty and taxes on the investments made in aviation sector such as airport infrastructure development, flight catering services, aircraft manufacturing industry, maintenance repair organizations, import of aircraft including aircraft engines and spare parts and supplies of all specification, ground support equipment were in progress. "The main impediments in the flourishment of aviation sector are the charges lived on the operators in one form or other, hence PCAA is also reviewing and rationalize the aeronautical charges. Moreover, non aeronautical charges are also to be rationalized in accordance with the market and competitors. Additionally, PCAA charges for domestic operations will be in PKR and FED on distance of 500 km or less will be exempted as these are mostly socio-economic routes".
Ali Tahir GM Marketing PIA said that the aviation policy 2015 had created atrocious impact on the industry as over 300 percent capacity was given to the Gulf carriers. He also lauded the efforts of incumbent government to cut taxes in order to promote aviation sector as FBR tariff is presently up to 35 percent.
Raheel Ahmed, AirBlue''s Deputy Managing Director Commercial said that although PCAA under NAP, 2019 was going to slash its tariffs up to 20 percent, currency stabilization had pivotal role for aviation sector to achieve sustainable growth.
Shehzad Ashraf Director Flights Operation Serene Air, Mohsin M Syed of Hybrid Technics (Pvt) Ltd and Ghouse Akber of Princely Jets were also present in the presser.
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