- International flights from Abu Dhabi, Dubai affected.
- Nine PIA flights canceled and another 18 delayed.
- Air League, Officers Association supports engineers.
KARACHI: Several Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights were canceled and several others delayed as the dispute between the national airline and its engineering staff entered its sixth day, sources said on Sunday.
The issue arises from the Society of Aeronautical Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) protesting over working conditions and safety-related complaints.
As of 5 pm, PIA had canceled nine flights and delayed 18 others due to technical issues and unavailability of spare parts.
The canceled international flights included those from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar, Dubai to Karachi and Faisalabad to Dubai.
PIA flights from Dubai to Faisalabad and Peshawar to Dubai also faced cancellations.
Domestic cancellations included flights between Gilgit and Islamabad as well as Skardu and Islamabad in both directions.
The dispute also caused delays of up to ten hours on 18 domestic and international flights.
The stalemate between PIA management and its engineering staff worsened last week after the national airline sacked the SAEP president and general secretary.
A Nov. 6 notice announced the dismissal of the two officials after they failed to appear for in-person hearings on Nov. 4 and 5 before the airline’s CEO.
Meanwhile, the Air League, a union representing workers, and the Officers’ Association announced their support for aeronautical engineers.
In a joint statement, they condemned the dismissal of the SAEP officials, calling it a “flagrant example” of “retaliatory action.”
Air League president Shamim Akmal noted that PIA was going through a delicate period amid long-standing issues of “corruption and financial mismanagement”.
However, he said expressing concerns about passenger safety is now considered a punishable act.
The Officers’ Association demanded immediate reinstatement of the SEAP officials, while urging the PIA management to resolve the issues through dialogue.
The PIA management accused the body of aeronautical engineers of trying to “sabotage the privatization of the airline.”
Last week, a PIA spokesperson said the SAEP’s decision to walk away from work after raising a “safety issue” was a deliberate attempt to disrupt operations and put pressure on management.
