Pakistan announces details of reduced inbound international flights

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued details regarding the number of reduced international flights in the wake of worsening COVID-19 situation.

According to details shared by the CAA, Qatar Airways was previously allowed to operate 56 flights in a week, which is now minimised to 11, followed by eight flights allowed to Gulf Air as compared to 35 flights previously in a week.

Turkish Air is allowed to operate three flights in a week as compared to 21 previously while another Turk airline, Pegasus Airline, would operate a single flight in a week contrary to four flights previously.

Etihad Airways was previously allowed 32 flights in a week which are now reduced to six, followed by two flights of Sri Lankan Airways and three flights of Thai Airways as compared to their four and 18 flights respectively previously.

The CAA acting on the directives has reduced international flight operations to 20 per cent, bringing down 590 flights operation in a week to 123 flights owing to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"The fresh frequency for the international airlines will remain applicable from May 5 to 20,” the aviation authority said.

Besides international flights, the CAA has also brought down domestic flight operations to 40 per cent on the directives of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

Pakistan has also revised its land border management policy with neighbouring Iran and Afghanistan.

The NCOC has taken the decision in order to halt the transfer of new variants of coronavirus from the neighbouring countries with revision in the land border management policy.

The revised land border management policy will come into force from the midnight between May 4 and 5, the NCOC stated. The new border policy will remain enforced until the midnight of May 19 and 20, according to the NCOC.

The new land border policy will be implemented over the people who will cross the border on foot. The new rules of the policy will not be implementable over the cargo, bilateral trade and the Afghan Transit Trade, the NCOC stated.