KARACHI, July 27: The ministry of defence has made major changes in the national aviation policy and allowed private airlines to operate on international routes, ending the monopoly of the state-run Pakistan International Airlines. The government has so far provided protection to PIA on international routes and did not allow private airlines to operate on any international route other than Dubai.

According to a circular issued by the Civil Aviation Authority, Aero Asia has been allowed 56 flights a week to Dubai, 28 flights a week to other cities in the UAE, four to Bahrain, five to Qatar, six to Singapore, 12 to Scandinavian countries and 12 a week to the UK.

Shaheen Airways has been allowed to operate 28 flights per week to Dubai, 15 to UAE (other than Dubai), 12 to Oman, three to Qatar, eight to Kuwait, two to Uzbekistan, four to the UK and three to the US.

Airblue has been allowed to operated 35 flights to Dubai, 38 to UAE (other than Dubai) and eight to the UK. Sources said the private airlines are required to register 20 per cent of its fleet by the end of the current year, up to 40 per cent by the end of June next year, 80 per cent till the end of 2007 and 100 per cent by June 30, 2008.