Airport Co-ordination Ltd (ACL), the slot co-ordinator of Dubai International Airport, has asked Pakistan International Airline (PIA) to explain issues with flights that operated at a significantly different time from the allocated slot time which hampered the smooth operation of the airport. Dubai airport ranked among world”s busiest airports recently underwent runway repairs to facilitate around 30-40 aircraft operating in and out of Dubai and serves 180,000 passengers travelling to some of 260 destinations.
The authority asks from its member airlines not to do anything special but adhere to the slots given to them. Moreover, despite a heavy load of traffic Dubai airport has been giving PIA special favours on a daily basis and helps airline for frequent changes in the slots. However, PIA management has failed to take advantage of this special assistance and flights do not arrive as per the re-allotted time slots that creates problems for ACL.
Sources said Dubai Airport Authority has warned PIA to respond to frequent delays of PIA flights at the airport which are hampering the smooth operations of Dubai airport while failure to explain the reasons behind poor performance might result in PIA being asked to attend the Slot Performance Committee, and may result in partial withdrawal of historic rights to operate at Dubai International Airport. It is pertinent to mention that ACL is responsible for administering the Dubai International Airport under Slot Enforcement Local Rule and under this rule operator”s slots and historic status may be withdrawn in the event of intentional slot misuse.
Airlines are responsible for planning and operating to the allocated slot times. Meanwhile Schedule & Network Planning Section of PIA has admitted the violations and assured the authority that concerned department has been instructed to take a corrective action for improvement of performance in future.
While regretting the delays it admitted that 39 percent flights were delayed due to technical reasons and maintenance, eight percent CAA inspection, eight percent custom immigration, 14 per cent due to other consequences and the rest were delayed due to various other reasons including ATC clearance, late catering loading, late reporting of cabin crew etc.
