RAWALPINDI: Lion Air has been designated by Indonesian authorities to operate flights to Pakistan.

The airline had been allowed to operate flights to Pakistan under the Air Service Agreement (ASA), after it approached the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), asking for permission to resume flights. However, it is yet to be decided what cities the airline will operate flights to and from.

An air transport agreement or the ASA is a bilateral agreement allowing international commercial air transport services to operate between two countries or signatories.

Indonesian authorities recently designated Lion Air as another airline that can operate flights to Pakistan, a senior official said, adding Pakistan has already allowed global airlines to resume flight operations to and from Pakistan.

Many international carriers, including British Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates started flight operations to and from Pakistan after spread of Covid-19 in the country was controlled.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2020