Rawalpindi: Global air transport body has warned of an ‘aviation crisis’ in Pakistan as airlines struggle to recover USD 290 million owed due to severe financial crunch, Dawn reported on Thursday, quoting the Financial Times. The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has said that it is trying to make timely payments to the airlines and is in touch with the concerned authorities on the issue. As reported by Dawn, the Financial Times quoted the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as saying that serving Pakistan has become “very challenging” for carriers as they struggle to refund their dues paid in dollars. “The dues reached USD 290 million,” Dawn wrote, citing a Financial Times report. The ongoing crisis has also affected the aviation industry where airlines sell tickets in local currency but return dollars to pay for expenses such as fuel costs.

Source: Daily Nation March 17, 2023 18:56 UTC