Shaheen Air allowed to fly back passengers from China

KARACHI: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) here on Monday permitted Shaheen Air International (SAI), under special conditions, to fly back home more than 300 Pakistani passengers from Guanzhou, China.

A CAA spokesman told APP that the passengers, comprising visitors and those working at Guanzhou had got their seats reserved with SAI, prior to the suspension of services and facilities to the airline by CAA for non payment of dues.

"The permission is for one time and absolutely on humanitarian basis so that Pakistani passengers may not suffer and reach home without any inconvenience," the spokesman said.

Guanzhou located in Guangdong province in southern China has a sizable population of Pakistanis who regularly fly to and from one of the major cities of China.

Dues amounting to Rs.1.5 billion were said to be paid by SAI to CAA for utilization of services and facilities at the airports scattered around the country.