NEW DELHI, Nov 5:
India has requested Pakistan to grant overflight clearance to Go First airline’s Srinagar-Sharjah flight keeping in mind the larger interest of common people who have booked tickets for the route, Government officials said yesterday.
Pakistan on Tuesday did not allow the Srinagar-Sharjah flight to use its airspace, forcing it to take a longer route and fly over Gujarat to reach its destination in the UAE, they mentioned.
Go First, previously known as GoAir, had started direct flights between Srinagar and Sharjah from October 23 and the service was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the Valley last month.
“Pakistani authorities had granted overflight clearance to Go First flights to operate the Srinagar-Sharjah sector on October 23rd, 24th, 26th and 28th,” a source said.
Sources said subsequently, Pakistan put the clearance for the same flight on hold for the period from October 31 to November 30.
“This matter was promptly taken up with Pakistan through diplomatic channels and we have requested Pakistan to grant overflight clearance for this flight in the larger interest of the common people who have booked tickets on this route,” the source said.
The officials said Pakistan on Tuesday did not allow the flight to pass through its airspace, and therefore, the service had to take a longer route, going over Gujarat, adding around 40 minutes to the flight time on the onward journey as well as the return journey. (PTI)
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