PCAA Warns Serene Air: Restore Grounded Flights or Face Sanctions

Serene Air is grappling with significant operational challenges, as four out of its seven aircraft remain out of service, leading to disrupted flight schedules and considerable passenger inconvenience. In response, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has issued a stern warning, urging the airline to restore its grounded planes or face severe consequences, including the suspension of its international flights.

Nadir Shafi Dar, the Director General of PCAA, stated that the airline had received a show-cause notice requiring alterations to its domestic flight schedules. “We are closely monitoring the airline,” Dar said, adding that the PCAA’s decision was spurred by an increase in passenger complaints about delayed and canceled flights. Serene Air must bring the grounded aircraft back into service by the end of the month, according to the regulation.

Dar further emphasized the potential for stricter measures: “Yes, we will consider suspending the international operations of Serene Air if they don’t make its grounded aircraft operational this month.”

In contrast, Serene Air’s Chief Executive Officer, AVM Muhammad Safdar Khan (Retd) refused to confirm whether or not he had been served with a show-cause notice, though he admitted to meeting the Director General on October 23rd, 2024. He cited engine problems were the most common cause of grounded aircraft; it is discouraging that the maintenance workshops for Boeing 737 engines are today characterized by long backlogs that last for more than two months.

“We have sent our four engines to Finland, and we expect one of the aircraft to resume operations in coming days,” Khan said, adding confidence that Serene Air would return to full operational capacity within three months.

Despite these operational hurdles, Khan detailed the airline’s ambitious plans for growth, including the induction of wide-body aircraft within the next three to five years. He also stressed that Serene Air did not lay off any of its employees even during the post-Covid financial crisis for which hardly any regional airline is an exception.

On the other hand, the DG PCAA argued that non-adherence to its directions might lead to severe legal action as the organization prepares to split into three separate entities in the coming year.