Payment Dispute Between Pakistan CAA and Shaheen Air

[Abbas Ali]

A Shaheen Air aircraft is expected to depart from Lahore at 10:30 PM tonight for Guangzhou to bring stranded passengers, according to news sources.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to Pakistan CAA spokesperson, the Shaheen Air aircraft is not airworthy for performing flight to Guangzhou to bring stranded passengers.

For the safety of passengers, CAA cannot allow operation of an aircraft which is not airworthy.

CAA on humanitarian grounds had allowed operation of flight but the aircraft has to be airworthy for the flight, according to spokesperson of the aviation regulatory body.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan also had asked CAA to check airworthiness of the aircraft before allowing it to depart for Guangzhou.

Probably the aircraft is Shaheen Air Airbus A330-200 registration AP-BML.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bml

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Shaheen Air aircraft seen active on August 3:

Airbus A320 registration AP-BLM most recent flight was NL-159 from Multan to Quetta. (Apparently for transportation of Hajj pilgrims)
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-blm

Airbus A320 registration AP-BMD most recent flight was NL-736 from Riyadh to Lahore. The A320 had arrived in Riyadh as flight NL-739 from Islamabad.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bmd

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to latest reports, Shaheen Air is holding talks with various charter flight operators to transport airline's passengers stranded in Guangzhou.

The airline hopes to arrange charter flight aircraft within seventy-two hours.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Stranded passengers of Shaheen Air staging protest in China.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to latest reports Pakistan CAA has allowed Shaheen Air to send an airworthy aircraft to Guangzhou to bring stranded Pakistanis.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to Foreign Office statement:

Shaheen Air operated twice-a-week flights between Lahore and Guangzhou.

The cancellation of airline's flight on July 29 left 260 passengers stranded in Guangzhou.

214 passengers with the help of Consulate General of Pakistan made alternate arrangements for journey to Pakistan.

46 passenger opted to wait for next flight of Shaheen Air.

Shaheen cancelled its flights of August 2 & 5 also.

The stranded passengers have been accommodated in Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence Guangzhou with halal meals facility by Shaheen Air.

Consulate General of Pakistan staff visited the hotel and found its facilities comfortable for passengers.

Pakistani consulate remains in touch Shaheen Air, stranded passengers and Chinese officials.

Pakistani authorities have to talked to their Chinese counterparts over the issue of passengers with expired visas.

Chinese are offering full cooperation on the issue.

Shaheen Air is making efforts for earliest possible return of passengers.

According to Shaheen Air spokesperson:

Shaheen Air has contacted PIA over the issue of privately-owned Pakistani airline's passengers stranded in Guangzhou.

The decision to contact PIA was made during meeting between officials of Shaheen Air and Pakistan CAA.

Shaheen Air has requested for PIA commercial terms.

Shaheen Air is awaiting PIA reply on the issue.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to Pakistan CAA statement, the aviation regulatory body has allowed Shaheen Air to operate flight to bring stranded passengers from Guangzhou.

Pakistan CAA has released/extended its services for Shaheen Air flight to/from Guangzhou. CAA has directed Shaheen Air that arrangements be made immediately for uplifting stranded passengers.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to Shaheen Air spokesperson statement in August 4 edition of Urdu daily Jang, Shaheen Air owners Ehasan Sehbai and Kashif Sehbai are in Pakistan and with the airline and its employees. They have no plan to leave the country or the airline.

Reports claiming that Shaheen Air owners have fled the country are not true, says the spokesperson.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Shaheen Air aircraft seen active on August 4:

Airbus A320 registration AP-BLM most recent flight was NL-158 from Quetta to Karachi. (Apparently for transportation of Hajj pilgrims)
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-blm

Airbus A320 registration AP-BMD most recent flight was NL-724 from Riyadh to Peshawar. The A320 had arrived in Riyadh as flight NL-735 from Lahore.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bmd

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Thirteen stranded passengers of Shaheen Air opted to travel from Guangzhou to Lahore via Colombo through SriLankan Airlines, according to a news channel.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According Pakistan CAA spokesperson, now Shaheen Air's own aircraft will fly to Guangzhou to airlift stranded passengers. The aircraft is expected to depart from Pakistan tonight.

A spare part (a rubber hose pipe for engine) required by aircraft has arrived in Pakistan and is going through customs clearance process.

Probably the aircraft is Shaheen Air Airbus A330-200 registration AP-BML parked at Lahore Airport.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bml

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to Shaheen Air spokesperson, the airline has decided to use its own aircraft to bring stranded passengers from Guangzhou.

The airline has arranged spare part required by the aircraft and engineers are installing it in the aircraft.

Shaheen Air hopes the aircraft will be allowed to perform flight after completion of part replacement work.

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

Five stranded passengers of Shaheen Air have arranged their flight to Lahore from Guangzhou via Kuala Lumpur, according to news sources.

Probably Malindo Air?

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

According to news sources, repairs work of Shaheen Air Airbus A330-200 has been completed at Karachi Airport. Pakistan CAA has issued airworthiness certificate to the aircraft and declared it fit for the flight.

From Karachi the aircraft is expected to depart at 11:30 PM for Lahore. From Lahore the aircraft will depart at 2:00 AM for Guangzhou where it will land at 11:00 AM. The aircraft will depart from Guangzhou at 1:00 PM for Lahore where it will land at 6:00 PM.

The aircraft will be operated without passengers on its flight from Pakistan to China.

Seems the aircraft is Shaheen Air Airbus A330-200 registration AP-BMI.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ap-bmi

Abbas