Only 12 PIA planes are operational

Either there are financial difficulties or the incompetence of the officers, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is yet to be run to its full capacity, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

It is learnt that only 12 aircraft of the PIA are operational at a time. Due to the proposed privatisation of the PIA, the airlines’ management seems uninterested in making the grounded aircraft operational.

It is also learnt that Airbus 320, Boeing and ATR are among the operational aircraft, and the PIA is limited to Riyadh, Madinah, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Toronto and Jeddah routes.

PIA’s domestic flights from Karachi to Lahore, Sialkot, Islamabad, Gilgit and Quetta are also operational.

The PIA covers its regional flights with the help of ATR aircraft while several of its aircraft are yet to become operational due to various reasons.

The PIA has been losing billions of rupees, for its more than 15 planes are grounded.

“The number of the operational aircraft changes based on their availability. All the PIA aircraft are operational,” the PIA spokesperson claimed.

PIA to recruit new pilots and cabin crew

Pakistan International Airline (PIA) authorities has decided to recruit new pilots and cabin crew.

According to PIA authorities not less than 10 new pilots and 40 air hostesses and flight stewards will be recruited.

Due to financial crisis of PIA, the national airline is also facing a shortage of captains and cabin crew.

Reportedly mostly pilots and other staff is leaving PIA due to reduction in salaries and delays and are continuing to join other airlines.

 

Reporter: Tayyab Saif and Saeed Ahmad Saeed