PIA Faces Flight Cancellations Amid Ongoing Engineers Dispute

The ongoing dispute between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and its engineering staff has led to widespread flight cancellations and delays, entering its sixth day. Sources confirmed that, as of Sunday evening, nine flights were canceled, and 18 others faced delays due to unresolved technical issues and a shortage of spare parts.

The dispute began when the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) protested over work conditions and safety-related concerns. The cancellations affected both domestic and international routes, including flights from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar, Dubai to Karachi, and Faisalabad to Dubai, as well as flights between Gilgit and Islamabad, and Skardu and Islamabad.

The tensions escalated when PIA dismissed the president and secretary general of the SAEP after they failed to attend personal hearings set by the airline’s CEO. The November 6 notification cited the engineers’ absence at the hearings as the reason for their dismissal. In response, the Air League and Officers’ Association announced their support for the engineers, condemning the dismissal as “retaliatory” and calling for the officials’ immediate reinstatement.

Air League President Shamim Akmal criticized PIA’s management for treating safety concerns as a punishable offense, especially amidst ongoing issues of corruption and financial mismanagement. The Officers’ Association urged PIA management to resolve the matter through dialogue.

PIA management, however, has accused the engineers of trying to “sabotage” the airline’s privatisation efforts. A PIA spokesperson suggested that the engineers’ decision to walk off the job over safety issues was a deliberate attempt to disrupt operations and exert pressure on the administration.

The dispute remains unresolved, and the disruption to PIA services continues to affect passengers across the country and abroad.