LAHORE: The Paris Airport Authority has imposed a fine of 40,000 euros on the Pakistan International Airlines for violating ‘curfew hours’ (at the airport).

The Paris Airport Authority has recently written a letter to the PIA asking it to pay 40,000 euros for violating the curfew hours (between 12 mid night to 6am at the airport) in last September by its Lahore-Paris flight.

The PIA flight landed and took off in curfew hours. According to a source, the Paris Airport Authority has warned the PIA to strictly follow its rules and avoid such violations in the future.

Also read: PIA fined for crew member’s expired passport

PIA spokesman Aamir Memon told Dawn that a PIA flight from Lahore to Paris got delayed in last September because of a technical issue. “The PIA flight had to land and take off during the curfew hours at the Paris airport because of this reason,” he said, adding the PIA management had spoken to its office manager in Paris and hopefully this fine would be waived of as this was a “routine matter”.

On the other hand, the PIA has yet to clear its outstanding dues of the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia regarding air navigation charges.

The outstanding dues amounting to more than SAR 5 million in connection with Air Navigation invoice have been pending since February this year.

The Saudi aviation authority had stressed on early settlement of outstanding dues. The national flag carrier has already lost most of its business on profitable routes. Very few lucrative business routes are available and Jeddah is one of them.

The Saudi authority last year had penalised PIA over continuous flight delays and cancellations during the Haj rush at the Jeddah Airport. Fine was also imposed after reviewing all the data available and failure of PIA’s commitment to streamline its operations. It had also highlighted the schedule lapses and mishandling of passengers.

It had also issued many notices to PIA on creating disruption by flight cancellation, mismanagement of flight schedule, creating passengers chaos and over bookings at the Jeddah Airport Hajj Terminal.

Aamir Memon said the PIA would clear the remaining outstanding amount in connection with air navigation to the Saudi aviation next week. He said the PIA faced problems during the last Haj operation because of shortage of fleet. “This year the PIA is operating seven Boeing and two A-330 aircraft for the Haj operation and hopefully there will be no delay,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 22th, 2015

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