Pakistan International Airlines continues to face flight disruptions
The feud between the Pakistan Society of Aeronautical Engineers (SAEP), a representative office of the engineers, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had been ongoing for some time, but relations deteriorated after the engineers stopped issuing airworthiness certificates, effectively grounding multiple aircraft on Monday and triggering mass cancellations on domestic and international routes.
The SEAP action disrupted the travel plans of thousands of passengers and dealt a devastating blow to the already struggling airline. Although PIA claimed that the situation had improved, disruptions still continued.
While flights PK302 and PK306 from Karachi to Lahore were canceled, PK304 was delayed by ten hours. Flight PK370 from Karachi to Islamabad was delayed by three hours.
PK218 from Peshawar to Doha faced a delay of 18 hours, as did PK286 from Doha to Peshawar.
SEAP announced that engineers continued to fulfill their duties and cleared aircraft deemed fit to fly. He reiterated that his members will not bow to management pressure and will not compromise on passenger safety or flight standards under any circumstances. His demands include salary increases, which he says have remained stable for the last eight years, as well as the timely provision of aircraft spare parts and improved working environment.
PIA on Tuesday accused SEAP of trying to sabotage the airline’s ongoing privatization process by halting aircraft transit under the pretext of security concerns.
“The main aim of this move is to sabotage the ongoing privatization process of PIA, which has now reached its final stage,” PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan said in a statement. he said.
The government plans to privatize the airline, although its first attempt to sell the national carrier last year failed.
