Karachi: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been sustaining with financial hemorrhage for long period on the high operational cost against its revenue earnings but it has been continued its flight operations at all odds with quite satisfactory services and resources constraints however the situation is no longer the same now as the airlines has been passing through its worst history with half of its aircraft are non-functional.
The national flag carrier has been struggling hard to maintain its routine flight operations at minimum international standard because the repeated cancellation and long delay of flights on domestic and international routes has become order of the day.
The airlines is managed to run with 21 fleets out of total 39 as less than half of its planes were grounded on the unavailability of engines and different accessories. In this situation, the airline though managed to obtain few aircraft on lease but it went in vain because of the fact the airlines could not operate all of its flights on time with causing inconvenience and hardship to its hundreds of passengers every day.
Among the grounded aircraft remained after overhauling and maintenance as of December 20, there are four B-747; three B-737 aircraft, three Airbus; one B-777 and two ATRs planes.
PIA’s flights’ punctuality of domestic and international operations have reached at alarming poor level in the nine months of ongoing year, marking a worst service record in its nine-year history with long delays and repeated cancellation of the flights.
According to the official statistics made available to the scribe, the PIA flights punctuality has continued to fall with 65.5 percent mark that barely attained in the period for the operational and service standards—a lowest level since 2000 in which the flights punctuality recorded at 77.5 percent.
PIA flights’ punctuality is far away from the international flight services standard of 93 percent in the nine month of ongoing year in addition to its own target of 85 percent for on time services availability.
The official records stated that PIA marked its punctuality at 76.9 percent in 2001; 83.8 percent in 2002; 82.3 percent in 2003; 85.5 percent in 2004; 86.7 percent in 2005; 82.1 percent in 2006; 81.5 percent in 2007; 79.4 percent in 2008; 73.1 percent in 2009; 68 percent in 2010 and 65.5 percent in nine months of the current year.
On December 1, PIA’s 31 domestic and international flights were delayed on a single day—a worst record in the history of the airline. Mostly, the flights are being recorded delayed for 2 to 6 hours daily nowadays on different routes owing to prevailing crisis situation in the airline.
PIA’s is continue to lose its passengers and its earnings but its expenses have been mounting at accelerated pace, increasing speedily the losses up to Rs 116 billion.
According to the officials, PIA has taken 3 engines on lease paying more than US $300 per hour per engine, while its own engines are overhauled and ready for installation at Singapore and Amman but the management continues to ignore this fact to acquire more and more items on lease for kick backs.
The airlines paid US $10-12 million to Hellinic Airways for two aircraft on lease while it could have overhauled at least 8-10 engines of aircraft with rectifications made against the same amount.
The management awarded the maintenance and spare parts contract to Transworld Aviation FZE, a Dubai based US firm, which lacks the qualifications and expertise to carry out the assigned task.
PIA placed more than 1800 orders to Transworld for supplies since mid of October to December but the company responded on only less than 400 orders. The Original Equipment Manufacturers, (OEMs) of the aircrafts refused to deliver supplies to Transworld and that various OEMs do not employ the services of Transworld for this task.
Besides, a huge amount has been spent to set up an FM radio station, which is causing a colossal loss of revenue to date.
Insiders said the incumbent management has dragged the airline from completely collapse because it neither improved the operations and services of airline nor it could contain its mounting losses but make the situation deteriorated with improper planning and decisions.
The airlines’ management inappropriate plans and illogical decisions have caused huge losses to the airlines, which not only hurt its reputation but caused sufferings to the loyal passengers countrywide and international level.
PIA always makes profit for Hajj operations since its inception but this year, unfortunately, it run its overall flight operation in loess with plenty of 10,000 Riyal imposed by Saudi Aviation Authority on the continuous flights operations that hurt passengers at the airport.
The worst post Hajj operation of PIA’s history ended with a mere 15 percent punctuality as around 41 out of 270 post Hajj flights arrived on time.
Nadeem Yousufzai, MD PIA, claimed that he would take 90 days to turn around PIA but unfortunately, he miserably failed to honor his words and since his appointment he has only proved his incompetence by appointing corrupt and inefficient cronies at key positions who have brought the airline to verge of collapse.
PIA management is interested in making commission for leasing aircraft rather than repairable aircraft of the airlines because 15 to 20 employees at the helm of PIA’s top management are responsible for the total devastation of PIA.
PIA has been focal point for labour union activities that always create strong oppositions against the management decision’s with strikes and protest.
Joint Action Committee of PIA Employees (JACPIAE), which is alliance of all labor parties, Â have warned the federal government to take stringent measures for saving national flag carrier from total devastation or the employees will have no other option but to approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
It vowed that employees want change of system not faces to run the airline successfully without corruption, otherwise, strong reactions such as protest demonstrations, strikes and sit-in front of parliament are on the card.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription