Pakistan International Airlines has agreed to increase allowances for its aircraft engineers following a prolonged protest by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan. The national carrier’s Board of Directors approved the measure after reviewing the airline’s two-year safety performance.
Aircraft engineers began their industrial action on November 2, refusing to issue flight clearance certificates that are mandatory for aircraft operations. This protest resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays across PIA’s network.
Engineers conducted a symbolic protest by wearing protest bands on their shoulders for over two months. SAEP representatives identified two primary concerns: significant salary disparities and ongoing aircraft safety issues related to spare part shortages.
According to a PIA spokesperson, the increased allowances will appear in December salaries with retroactive effect from November. The Board of Directors stated this decision recognizes engineers’ professional contributions and aims to improve the airline’s operational standards.
Read: Pakistan Targets Mid-December for Final PIA Privatisation Bidding
The special allowance approval also considers PIA’s potential privatization, suggesting efforts to stabilize workforce relations before ownership changes.
PIA’s Board of Directors reviewed the airline’s safety record and operational performance before authorizing the allowance increase. This resolution ends a significant labor dispute that substantially disrupted the national carrier’s flight operations throughout the protest period.
The agreement represents a successful outcome for the engineering union while addressing management concerns about maintaining safety standards during the airline’s restructuring process.
