ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority faces huge losses overcoronavirus outbreak flights cancellation.
The Civil Aviation Authority has suffered an estimated loss of Rs. 3.618billion in the month of March, 2020 due to the cancellation ofinternational flights amid the coronavirus outbreak.
According to documents available with ProPakistani, a total of 1,681domestic and international flights were canceled in the month of March with1,461 of those flights canceled in the last two weeks of the month.
The aviation authority has suffered a loss of Rs. 2.723 billion due to theflights’ suspension, landing, and other charges.
The federal government on Wednesday had extended the suspension of domesticflight operation till April 11, 2020.
The government has taken this decision due to the rising number ofcoronavirus cases in the country. On the other hand, the government hasalso announced to restart international flight operations from Thursday(today).
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official spokesperson said that thegovernment has decided to extend the suspension of all types of domesticscheduled, non-scheduled, chartered, private aircraft and general aviationoperations till April 11, 2020.
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However, the domestic flight operations to/from Islamabad InternationalAirport for Gilgit and Skardu airports would continue as normal operations,he added. The cargo and special flights will be exempted from therestriction.
It is worth mentioning that the aviation industry has been badly affectedby the coronavirus outbreak across the world.
According to Centre for Aviation’s (CAPA) report many airlines haveprobably already been driven into technical bankruptcy, or are at leastsubstantially in breach of debt covenants.
By the end of May 2020, most airlines in the world will be bankrupt.
“Co-ordinated government and industry action is needed — now — ifcatastrophe is to be avoided.”
