ISLAMABAD: The government has granted approval to issue Regular Public Transport (RPT) licence (Passenger & Cargo) to M/s Q-Airways (Pvt.) Limited to launch a private airline in the country.
According to sources, the federal cabinet has authorised the grant of RPT licence (Passenger & Cargo) to M/s Q-Airways (Pvt.) Limited for serving the domestic market and after the issuance of RPT licence, M/s Q-Airways (Pvt.) Limited is likely to start flight operation with a fleet of three Airbus-320 aircraft from Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad in upcoming April or May 2022.
The Aviation Division during a meeting of the federal cabinet held on 25th January 2022 apprised that M/s Q-Airways (Pvt.) Limited had intended to launch a RPT airline in the country and requested for issuance of RPT licence.
Under rule 177 (1) of the Civil Aviation Rules 1994 and National Aviation Policy (NAP)-2019, the federal government is competent authority for issuance of RPT licence, said sources.
They added that approval of the cabinet was therefore solicited for issuance of RPT licence (Passenger & Cargo) to M/s Q-Airways (Pvt.) Limited.
The sources said the cabinet while granting its approval to issue RPLT licence to M/s Q-Airways (Pvt.) Limited had also directed the cabinet division that in future all transport and logistics related issues requiring approval of the cabinet should be submitted through the Cabinet Committee on Transport and Logistics (CCoTL).
It is relevant to note that the Minister for Maritime Affairs/Chairman CCoTL had earlier also pointed out that the cases for the air transport licence should first be submitted to the cabinet committee constituted to holistically examine the transport logistics issues and it was suggested that in future all transport and logistics related issues requiring approval of the cabinet should be submitted through the CCoTL.
Besides, during the present government’s tenure, four RPT licences in total had been issued, out of which three were for Tourism Promotion and Regional Integration (TPRI) and one RPT licence to Jinnah Fly which is expected to commence operations next year.
Regular Public Transport (RPT) Licence is issued by Director General, CAA with the approval of the federal government for carriage of passengers and cargo services. And, the License is only a permission to develop an RPT organisation and in no way entitles the licensee to operate an aircraft. This can only be done after issuance of an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
Similarly, it is necessary that before setting up an airline, the company management should become fully conversant with Civil Aviation Rules 1994; Air Navigation Orders (ANOs), Airworthiness Notices issued from time to time and relevant international practices/requirements. Furthermore, the minimum fleet requirement for launching flight operation is three aircraft for passenger operations and one aircraft for cargo operations.
