RAWALPINDI:Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan has directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to constitute a taskforce to help facilitate passengers stranded at airports because of severe weather conditions.

Mr Khan on Thursday directed airport chief operating officers, airport managers, terminal managers and duty terminal managers of various airports to interact with passengers whose flights have been delayed because of the weather in light of the prevailing fog situation in the country.

Airport, deputy airport and terminal managers should ensure that they are present in passenger lounges and boarding areas to monitor the situation and pre-empt anything untoward.

Mr Khan also directed the CAA to ask all airport managers and COOs to form a taskforce and ensure they are available after working hours.

A senior officer, deputy airport manager and terminal manager will head the teams, which should consist of all stakeholders including the Airport Security Force (ASF), airlines and ground handling representatives in order to handle delayed flights and passengers according to standard operating procedure.

Sources said the decision to form this taskforce was made at a top level meeting in the capital on Thursday.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) representatives briefed the meeting on flight delays and diversions to other airports due to the weather. They asked the CAA to improve navigation facilities at airports to avoid delays and diversions.

PIA spokesperson Abdul Hafeez told Dawn that PIA has made plans in advance to facilitate its passengers and avoid diversions despite lacking navigation facilities.

“We take maximum care of our passengers and facilitate them – especially those travellers who are unable to fly on time due to severe weather conditions,” he said, adding that weather conditions are considered extraordinary circumstances.

First TPRI licence to be awarded

The Aviation Division has said that the first Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration (TPRI) licence will be given to Aircraft Sales and Services (ASSL) on Jan 6.

Mr Khan made the announcement on Thursday after ASSL completed the formalities to start TPRI operations.

The company intends to begin tourism promotion flights with its three aircraft, including the Beech-1900 D, Cessna F-406 and King Air 250. It is expected to induct two larger aircraft – the Embraer E-145 — with the capacity to seat 50 passengers each soon.

It will operate from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad as its hub stations with flights to Gwadar, Turbat,Mohenjo-daro, Gilgit and Skardu.

Aviation Secretary Hassan Nasir Jamy approved the award of the first TPRI licence to ASSL upon the completion of all requirements and procedures. The licence award ceremony will be held on Jan 6.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2020