LCCI Expresses Concern Over Domestic Flight Delays and Cancellations — Calls for Equal Focus on Local Air Services
LAHORE, Oct 5 (Business Desk): The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has expressed serious concern over the increasing frequency of flight cancellations and delays across Pakistan’s domestic air routes, calling them detrimental to business activities and economic growth.
LCCI President Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol, Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh, and Vice President Khurram Lodhi urged all operational airlines in Pakistan to pay equal attention to domestic flight operations alongside their international routes.
The LCCI office-bearers said that most airlines focus their resources and planning on international operations, where profitability is higher, while domestic flights remain neglected. As a result, frequent cancellations and long delays have become routine, causing frustration among passengers and severe disruptions for the business community.
They emphasized that punctual and reliable air connectivity between major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Peshawar is vital for trade, investment, industrial productivity, and overall economic stability. “Missed meetings, delayed shipments, and shaken investor confidence are the direct consequences of unreliable flight operations,” they noted.
The LCCI leaders urged the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the federal government to direct airlines to treat domestic routes with the same importance and service quality as international ones. They also recommended increasing airport counters and setting up dedicated business counters to facilitate the commercial community.
They proposed that airlines be required to maintain a minimum guaranteed frequency on major domestic routes and refrain from cancelling flights without valid operational reasons. Passengers facing cancellations or excessive delays should be compensated or provided alternative arrangements in line with global best practices.
Highlighting the broader economic significance, the LCCI representatives stated that a strong domestic aviation sector is the backbone of national economic growth. “No economy can thrive if its internal mobility network is weak. Domestic air travel must be treated as a strategic national asset, not a secondary service,” they added.
They further called for a comprehensive policy reform package to modernize domestic aviation infrastructure, enhance competitiveness, and improve passenger services, ensuring that Pakistan’s air transport system supports sustained business and investment growth.
