Limited Operations Approved to Assist Passengers Stuck in Saudi Arabia
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted temporary permission to Serene Air to resume a limited number of flights. The move aims to repatriate Pakistani passengers stranded in Saudi Arabia after the airline’s earlier suspension. According to an official notification, the special clearance is valid for two weeks and is strictly for completing the repatriation process.
Hundreds of Pakistani travelers, who had already booked tickets with Serene Air, were left stuck abroad when the CAA suspended the airline’s operations earlier this month. The suspension followed a regulatory review which found that none of Serene Air’s aircraft were airworthy, leading to the revocation of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on October 5.
Serene Air Faces Suspension Amid Fleet and Financial Troubles
Serene Air, which began operations in 2017 with a fleet of five Boeing 737 aircraft, has been grounded for several weeks. The suspension came due to ongoing financial constraints and fleet maintenance failures, which prevented the airline from maintaining minimum operational standards.
The CAA has stated that the suspension remains in place until the airline restores its aircraft to airworthy condition and meets all regulatory and safety requirements for full reinstatement. The aviation authority has also directed Serene Air to return all operational certifications for thorough review and revalidation.
In response, Serene Air has assured passengers that the suspension is temporary and said it is working closely with the CAA to resolve operational issues. The airline has promised to resume full services as soon as all compliance standards are met.
