Management says SAEP tried to stop the national flag carrier from operating, but swift action thwarted its bid.
Pakistan International Airlines canceled five flights after its engineering union halted operations, the national flag carrier said in a statement on Friday. The airline claimed that the Pakistan Society of Aeronautical Engineers, a deregistered body, attempted to halt PIA’s operations during the late hours of Thursday “with a nefarious design to sabotage the privatization process.”
“Management, in cooperation with key position holders in the Engineering Department, responded quickly. Using alternative means and working tirelessly day and night, they restored operations, thereby mitigating the impact of the already delayed flights,” the statement said.
PIA confirmed that five flights were canceled following load readjustments and alternative arrangements were offered to affected passengers. The airline assured that flight operations were being fully restored and that “customer comfort remains our top priority.”
Read more: PIA flight operations hit as dispute with engineers continues
Following schedule review and crew adjustments, two international flights, Karachi-Toronto (PK-783) with 104 passengers and Islamabad-Manchester (PK-701) with 329 passengers, departed on time.
However, seven flights including Lahore-Madina (PK-747), Karachi-Jeddah (PK-761), Karachi-Islamabad (PK-300), Islamabad-Madina (PK-741), Islamabad-Dubai (PK-233), Islamabad-Dammam (PK-245) and Sialkot-Riyadh (PK-755) faced delays. PIA said it remained focused on minimizing disruption and ensuring passengers reach their destinations safely as operations return to their normal schedule.
On Monday, flight operations were suspended following a clash between PIA and its aeronautical engineers, who stopped issuing airworthiness clearances in protest against the behavior of the airline’s chief executive. The suspension grounded 12 international flights after 8pm, causing difficulties for passengers, including Umrah pilgrims. The SAEP had announced that its members would not return to work until the director general changed his behavior.
