Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is experiencing massive flight disruptions across the country after aircraft engineers launched a widespread protest against the airline’s management. The labor action has effectively halted the national carrier’s operations.
The dispute between PIA management and the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) escalated dramatically, leading engineers to suspend all aircraft clearance for departure. The protesting engineers have declared they will not resume work until the attitude of PIA’s Chief Executive Officer improves.
The protest has resulted in the grounding of numerous domestic and international flights. Significant disruptions have affected major routes, including:
- Lahore to Madinah (PK747, PK744)
- Islamabad to Jeddah (PK741, PK736)
- Karachi to Jeddah (PK761, PK832)
- Karachi–Lahore–Abu Dhabi route (PK263, PK264)
- Karachi–Islamabad–Dubai and Peshawar routes (PK233, PK284)
Sources confirmed that after 8:00 PM, no international flights were able to depart from Karachi Airport due to the engineers’ refusal to clear aircraft for takeoff.
Read: PIA Resumes Flights to UK After Five-Year Hiatus
In response to the protest, the PIA CEO has reportedly directed the Chief HR Officer to take strict disciplinary action against the engineers involved. The CEO specifically instructed that “engineers responsible for flight disruptions must face consequences,” according to sources within the airline.
This operational crisis threatens to undermine PIA’s recent progress, particularly the celebrated restoration of its UK route after a five-year hiatus. The airline had recently resumed twice-weekly flights to Manchester, marking a significant milestone that was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. The ongoing standoff now jeopardises the carrier’s fragile operational recovery and global reputation.
