Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has come under criticism as a delay in license renewal has brought Syrian Airlines’ operations to a halt, leaving over 1,200 employees unpaid for the past two months.
According to airline sources, Syrian Airlines applied to the Ministry of Aviation to reinstate its Air Operator Certificate so that operations could resume and employees’ salaries could be cleared next month. The airline said several planes, including one currently in China, as well as engines and spare parts from abroad, are ready for deployment once the license is restored.
The license was suspended two months ago due to a decrease in the number of operational aircraft and delays in timely passenger arrivals. This suspension has disrupted both domestic and international flights. Airline officials claim that had the CAA acted promptly, the airline’s operations would not have been interrupted.
Syrian Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer Abdul Basit stated that flights would resume immediately after the license is reinstated, and employees’ salaries would also be paid starting next month. The incident has sparked criticism of the CAA’s inefficiency and traditional negligence in managing airline operations.
