ISLAMABAD - American aviation authorities have refused to allow direct flights to the United State from Pakistan citing ”inappropriate” security arrangements at the country’s airports, reports and officials said on Friday.
Dang. Homeland Security got one right? | PakistanÂ’s Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) initiated a review of security arrangements in light of the concerns expressed by US authorities, Urdu language daily Ausaf reported. The CAA and officials of national-flag-carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) confirmed the report to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), but offered no further details.
PIA recently purchased a long-haul Boeing RL-777 for direct flights to destinations such as the US and Canada. Presently, its aircraft make a stopover in Manchester, United Kingdom, for refueling and passengers are required to disembark and go through re-screening. “We have started direct flights to Toronto (Canada) but the US authorities are not giving us permission and are saying that we should continue to operate flights via Manchester,” a PIA official said, requesting anonymity.
US embassy official Peter Kowach in Islamabad confirmed the report but declined to comment. “You should talk to Pakistani authorities on this,” he said.
"We're saying nothing, and we've said all we're going to say." |
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