COVID-19: Pakistan extends ban on international flight till May 31 while domestic operations resumed
Some 20 per cent of domestic flights resume operation from five major airports
Dubai: Good news for Pakistani passengers as domestic flight operation has resumed from five major airports in the country.
Pakistan, however, extended the suspension of regular international flights till May 31. Only special flights, cargo planes and chartered flights with prior permission are allowed to operate.
Some 20 per cent domestic flights were allowed to operate with effect from May 16 as part of the easing lockdown measures imposed due to COVID-19, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) announced on Saturday. The PCAA had earlier announced to extend the ban on domestic flights till May 29 but it allowed limited domestic flight operation following instructions from the government, which is under immense pressure from the business community to further ease lockdown to prevent further economic meltdown in the country.
Limited flights operation
Pakistan’s Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan in a video statement said 20% of the domestic flights would resume operations starting Saturday, May 16 following the final decision taken by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).
Five airports opened
The five major airports include Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Islamabad International Airport (IIAP), Quetta International Airport, and Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar are ready for the flight operation with safety measures in place. The domestic flight operation will also help the overseas Pakistanis to travel within the country after landing at any airport in Pakistan.
Safety measures
Sarwar said social distancing would be followed based on the seats in the airplane and capacity to fill 50% of the seats would be maintained. “Passengers will be provided the opportunity to travel safely,” he added. The Aviation Division has prepared very strict SOPs ensuring disinfection, social distancing and safety for the airline crew and passengers.
“Federal Minister for Aviation Mr. Ghulam Sarwar khan has stated that Aviation Division has prepared very strict SOPs ensuring disinfection, social distancing and safety for the airline crew and passengers. Initially PIA and Serene Air will operate the domestic flights,” PCAA tweeted
Some guidelines for passengers
No food and beverages will be allowed during domestic flight.
Airlines are required to maintain emergency PPE in every aircraft to deal with any health emergency during flight.
Every passenger will be required to fill a health declaration form prior to boarding the aircraft, which include identification of the passenger, brief travel history during past two weeks, current health state and an undertaking to comply with the SOPs.
At the airports, the passengers will be subjected to thermal scanning both on entry airports for departure and upon arrival at the destination city.
The luggage shall be disinfected prior to loading onto the aircraft and after arrival at the destination airport.
No meet and greet at the airport shall be allowed.
The drivers shall stay inside the vehicle in the parking lot.
Passengers would be required to fill health declaration forms before boarding the airplane and subjected to thermal scanning on entry and exit into and from a city. All luggage would be disinfected and no meet and greet would be allowed at the airport.