AIR FRANCE EXITS PAKISTAN, CAA INTRANSIGENCE UNDER FIRE.

AsiaPulse News, January, 2003

KARACHI, Jan 22 Asia Pulse - French flag carrier, Air France finally vacated its maintenance office at Jinnah Terminal in January this year having wound up cargo services to and from Pakistan in May last year preceded by the closure of its passenger service.

The airline quit its maintenance office in Karachi airport in the first week of January this year. It suspended cargo services in May 2001 in the wake of a bomb blast near Sheraton Hotel, which had killed eleven French nationals. The airline is also vacating its office situated in the Marriott Hotel, informed sources told The News.

Among other reasons, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is also a key factor in the closure of foreign airlines' business in Karachi, said an unnamed Karachi based high...