The federal government has allowed Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) to start flight operations to Sui for airlifting of serious patients and dead bodies to desired destinations. However, PPL's request for resumption of regular chartered and passenger flights has not been entertained so far by the ministry of defence, sources told Business Recorder.
In pursuance of directives of the ministry of defence, civil aviation authority (CAA) has accorded permission to PPL, the operator of Sui Gas Field in Balochistan, for restoration of flight operations that were suspended a few months back, for shifting of serious patients and dead bodies from Sui, however it is reluctant to allow regular chartered/passenger flights to and from Sui, sources added.
The sources pointed out that correspondence between PPL, ministry of interior, CAA and ministry of defence is going on at various levels, and hopefully the permission for resumption of regular chartered and passenger flights may be granted very soon.
According to the sources, the situation at Sui has now improved, therefore PPL is trying to convince the government to allow resumption of all flights, which were operative before closure of the Sui airport. The ministry of petroleum and PPL had requested the ministry of interior to ask ministry of defence as well as CAA authorities for restoration of flights to Sui at the earliest. However, the ministry of defence has just agreed to allow flight operations for only serious patients and dead bodies.
It is also learnt that on receiving green signal from the government high-ups for resumption of partial flight operation, an aircraft of Schon Airlines flew to Sui last week carrying CAA and PPL officials, to inspect the situation regarding condition of the airport. Since June last, the Sui airport is closed for operations after outlaws fired rockets at its building. In the attack, the building of the airport was badly damaged, however runway/airstrip remained safe.
The state-owned PPL, which is also operator of the Sui Field has already made agreements with private sector airlines including Royal Air and Schon Airline for chartered flights in addition to PIA that operates every Wednesday and Thursday. Royal Air runs twice a week chartered operations on every Tuesday and Wednesday.