The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has issued a stern warning to Serene Air, demanding the airline restore operations of its grounded aircraft or face potential sanctions, including the suspension of its international operations. This ultimatum comes as four of Serene Air’s seven aircraft remain non-operational, leading to significant disruptions in flight schedules and passenger inconvenience.
Director General of PCAA, Nadir Shafi Dar, confirmed that a show-cause notice had been issued to the airline, requiring it to revise its domestic flight schedule due to the reduced number of operational aircraft, reported Business Recorder.
“We are closely monitoring the airline,” Dar stated, emphasizing that the PCAA’s action was prompted by mounting passenger complaints regarding disrupted flight schedules. In a meeting with Serene Air’s management, the authority directed the airline’s CEO to ensure that the grounded fleet becomes operational within the month.
Dar further indicated that the PCAA would consider suspending Serene Air’s international operations if the airline fails to make its grounded aircraft operational by the end of the month. However, Serene Air’s CEO, AVM Muhammad Safdar Khan (Retd), denied receiving any show-cause notice from the PCAA. He acknowledged meeting with the Director General on October 23, 2024, where he explained that four aircraft were unserviceable due to engine issues, which were beyond the airline’s control.
Khan noted that maintenance workshops for Boeing 737 engines are experiencing extensive backlogs, with waiting times extending beyond two months. “We have sent our four engines to Finland, and we expect one of the aircraft to resume operations in the coming days,” Khan explained. He expressed confidence that the airline would return to full operational strength within the next three months.
Despite these challenges, Khan revealed ambitious expansion plans for Serene Air, including the induction of wide-body aircraft into its fleet within the next three to five years. He also highlighted that Serene Air was the only regional airline that avoided layoffs during the post-Covid financial crisis.
Meanwhile, DG PCAA maintained that failure to comply with the directives could result in stern action, signaling a potential escalation in regulatory oversight.
