Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended its entire flight operations, cancelling 77 flights due to the suspension of fuel supply by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) despite previous payments secured by the national carrier.
Amidst a deepening financial crisis, PIA found itself in dire straits as PSO halted fuel supply, which caught the airline off guard despite its prior financial commitments.
National Carrier Grapples with Financial Crisis
A PIA spokesperson, confirming the suspension of flight operations, revealed that 77 flights, including 52 international and 29 domestic ones scheduled for the day, had been cancelled. Only four flights managed to depart on the day in question.
The spokesperson explained that the airline’s inability to make payments stemmed from a coincidental bank closure on the same day, compounding their woes. Despite their best efforts, PIA was unable to process payments to PSO.
Despite the dire circumstances, PIA immediately paid over Rs220 million to PSO for the weekend’s fuel requirements. This payment was expected to facilitate the resumption of evening flights as soon as a new credit line became available. PIA also offered alternative travel options to affected passengers.
In contrast, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) released a statement denying any suspension of fuel supply to PIA. According to PSO, they had provided fuel for nearly 64 flights since Friday evening and had received a payment of Rs220 million from PIA for Saturday and Sunday. They insisted that fuel was being supplied by a priority list provided by the airline and that PIA had not provided schedules for the remaining amount.
PSO clarified that fuel worth Rs60 million was still available for PIA, emphasizing that the national carrier could obtain it if needed.
The consequences of these disruptions were far-reaching, affecting passengers who had to endure cancellations and delays and flight crew members grappling with uncertain departures.
It’s worth noting that the caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, had already directed relevant authorities to expedite the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in light of the ongoing challenges faced by the national carrier.
 faces financial turmoil as it suspends flight operations, leading to the cancellation of 77 flights, caused by a sudden fuel supply halt by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) despite prior payments.){kind=link}