Orbit Aviation to start Sharjah-Gwadar flights in May

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Orbit Aviation to start Sharjah-Gwadar flights in May

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By Nissar Hoath, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi:
The Baloch community of about 100,000 from Pakistan living in the UAE has again been promised a resumption of air services connecting their home province of Balochistan with the UAE.

This province has no international flights apart from the Gwadar-Muscat service.

The community has been demanding since 2001 that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines resume air services between the UAE and Makran's coastal towns of Gwadar and Turbat.

The only regular international air service between the UAE and Balochistan was suspended in October 2001 when the United States launched air strikes on Afghanistan.

The Fokker planes used on the route were also grounded due to lack of modern radar systems, as they did not comply with the policy of the UAE government.

This time the promise comes from Sharjah-based Orbit Aviation, which has already completed all the preparations, including gaining the necessary approval from Pakistani civil aviation authorities.

According to Orbit Aviation Operations Manager, Samir Mumtaz, the air service between Sharjah and Gwadar, the port town on the Makran Coast of Balochistan, is scheduled to begin in the second week of May.

"We have made all the arrangements, and are now in the process of marketing the destination. We have acquired all the necessary permission to operate the flight," he said.

Mumtaz said the private aviation company will operate a 45-seater Antonov An-24 turboprop aircraft on the route. The airline, he added, will operate three flights a week between the two destinations. The flights will be scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

He also informed the operation will be further expanded to cover other Balochistan towns if the response proves encouraging and as the demand rises.

A majority of the Baloch community in the UAE and neighbouring Oman hail from the Makran division of Balochistan, which stretches from Karachi to the Iranian border on the coast.

Passengers bound for Makran and Quetta are forced to fly home via Karachi with connecting flights, which is a big problem.

The connecting flights are normally overbooked and passengers have to wait for days to get a flight.

Fast Facts:

- The first regular international air service from Balochistan began in the 1960s between Muscat and Gwadar, operated by the Oman Air Force

- This was followed by PIA services with weekly flights between the two destinations until August 2004

- The Gwadar-Muscat service was again restored last year, with two regular weekly flights

- In November 1995, PIA began Balochistan's first air service to UAE, with a Boeing 737 flying between Pasni and Sharjah

- It was later increased to two flights, connecting the provincial capital Quetta

- In October 2001, flights were completely suspended as Fokkers were banned from operating on international routes due to lack of modern radar systems and the use of Pasni Airport by US Air Force launching air strikes on Afghanistan

Source: Gulf News
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