Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has earned 4.4790 billion rupees from five foreign and one local airline that launched their operation from Pakistan during the last five years. The Daily Times obtained documents which revealed that Civil Aviation Authority has taken Rs 430.50 million from Cargo Lux Airlines Luxemburg, whereas Cathay Pacific gave the runway rent charges and taxes of Rs 1.226 billion to CAA Pakistan. Similarly Uzbekistan Airways paid an amount of Rs 460.42 million to the authority during the period of last five years.

CAA took Rs 910.52 million from NAS Air. Similarly Tajik Airlines paid Rs 5.80 million, Sri Lankan Airlines paid Rs 1.19 billion to CAA Pakistan, and Malindo Airlines deposited Rs 380.85 million in the accounts of Civil Aviation Authority from 2011. CAA has also earned revenue of Rs 4.28 million from Somon Air and Rs 40.52 million from Taban Airlines. Safi Air gave Rs 110.96 million to CAA in the last five years. Civil Aviation Authority earned revenues of Rs 640.69 million in financial year 2011-12 and got Rs 1.136 billion in 2012-13.

In the fiscal year 2013-14, the earning of CAA remained at Rs 850.25 million. Similarly the authority got Rs 970.89 million in 2014-15, whereas in the current financial year, CAA has received a sum of Rs 860.39 million so far. Cargo Lux Airlines Luxemburg has started its operation from Pakistan on 4 May 2015. Cathay Pacific Hong Kong commenced its flights on 29 June 2014 in the country. Similarly Biman Airlines Bangladesh has been operating since February 2102 from Pakistan.

At least six foreign and two national airlines suspended their flights and five foreign airlines launched their operation from Pakistan during the last five years, whereas Bhoja Airlines has re-launched its operation. Uzbekistan Airways began its flight operation in Pakistan from 23 October 2013. FlyNAS Air of Saudi Arabia started flying on 9 November 2014. Likewise Tajik Air of Tajikistan began its journey from Pakistan on 16 July 2012. Air Indus has started its operation on 30 June 2015. Bhoja Air on 28 May 2012, Sri Lankan Air Lines on 17 November 2014, Malindo Airlines Malaysia has started its operation in Pakistan on 25 February 2014. Somon Air Tajikistan commenced its operation on 7 May 2016 from Pakistan. Taban Airlines Iran came to Pakistan on 4 April 2015. Safi Air Afghanistan has started its flights from 1st October 2013.