Srinagar-Sharjah direct-flight Pak denies use of its airspace to Srinagar-Sharjah direct-flight
New Delhi/IBNS: The Srinagar-Sharjah direct flight, inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah last month, has come under uncertainty as Pakistan denied the use of its airspace to a flight in the route.
According to flight-tracking service Radar24, till October 30 the services in the route crossed Pakistan's airspace but on November 2 the plane flew over Rajasthan and Gujarat, before turning west over the Arabian Sea.
The Civil Aviation, External Affairs and Home Affairs ministries had been informed of this development, government sources told news agency ANI Wednesday.
The first Srinagar-Sharjah flight took off on October 23.
श्रीनगर से शारजाह के लिए अंतरराष्ट्रीय उड़ान का उद्घाटन किया।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 23, 2021
श्रीनगर-शारजाह के बीच सीधी कनैक्टिविटी से पर्यटन को बढ़ावा मिलेगा साथ ही अंतरराष्ट्रीय लॉजिस्टिक आपूर्ति सुगम होने से J&K के कृषि व बागवानी उत्पादकों की आय में निश्चित ही गुणात्मक वृद्धि होगी व रोजगार भी बढ़ेगा। pic.twitter.com/86Vq9Rr9md
It takes an hour of extra flying time and increase in fuel and ticket costs, if flights from Srinagar to the United Arab Emirates do not fly over Pak territory.
In 2009, the Srinagar-Dubai service was stopped the demand for the service fell after Pak closed its airspace.
Now, it is being feared that the Srinagar-Sharjah direct-flight may meet the same fate.
Go First, the airline operating the direct-flight, said it plans to continue offering the service (on alternate days) for now, according to NDTV.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti slammed the government for launching the flight service without laying the necessary groundwork.
"Puzzling the Government of India didn't even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar. PR extravaganza without groundwork," she tweeted.
Puzzling that GOI didn’t even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar. Only PR extravaganza without any groundwork. https://t.co/3Cbj91C6Pb
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 3, 2021
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, tweeted, "Very unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped Go First being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn't to be."
Very unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that @GoFirstairways being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn’t to be. https://t.co/WhXzLbftxf
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 3, 2021
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