PIA flight operations return to normal after delays

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) experienced operational disruptions due to technical issues, maintenance delays and staff availability issues this week. The management team, along with key Engineering Department personnel, worked tirelessly to restore operations and minimize the impact on scheduled flights.

Several aircraft were temporarily unavailable due to technical defects and routine maintenance requirements. An aircraft with registration AP-BMX, which operated flight PK-308 (Karachi-Islamabad), was taken out of service due to a defect in the exhaust cone of engine No. 1, which caused the cancellation of PK-308/309 and PK-451/452.

Islamabad-Karachi flight PK-369 was canceled on Thursday night, while return flights between Islamabad and Skardu (PK-451/452) were also cancelled. Other flights that suffered delays were PK-287 (Islamabad-Doha), PK-286 (Doha-Peshawar) and PK-217 and PK-262 (Peshawar-Abu Dhabi-Islamabad). The Dubai-Sialkot flight was grounded in Dubai due to a problem with the braking system.

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The delays and cancellations were related to ongoing maintenance programs and the lack of availability of technical personnel and spare parts. The Society of Aeronautical Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP) highlighted that maintenance activities prioritize safety and compliance with airworthiness standards, even if operational adjustments are required.

Flight status after restoration

Following adjustments to the revised slots and crew layout, PIA reported the following:

Specific departures:

Delayed departures:

• PK-747 (Lahore-Medina): 14 hours late, 316 passengers

• PK-761 (Karachi-Jeddah): 12 hours late, 160 passengers

• PK-300 (Karachi-Islamabad): 4 hours late, 139 passengers

• PK-741 (Islamabad-Medina): 6 hours late, 305 passengers

Read more: PIA flight diverted to Karachi after mid-air bird strike

• PK-233 (Islamabad-Dubai): 9 hours late, 162 passengers

• PK-245 (Islamabad – Dammam): 7 hours late, 180 passengers

• PK-755 (Skardu-Riyadh): 7 hours late, 142 passengers

Five flights were canceled following load adjustments, and alternative arrangements were offered to affected passengers.

PIA confirmed that flight operations are being fully restored and passenger comfort remains a top priority. The airline emphasized the importance of trained technical staff, availability of essential spare parts and effective fleet planning and scheduling to support smooth operations and minimize future disruptions.