- PALPA reps refuse to hold talks with PIA management as air travelers remain most affected party in crisis
- PIA chairman vows to take legal action against pilots feigning illness, missing flights
- Says protesting pilots are demanding 100 per cent pay raise which is illogical
The standoff between the Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) and Pakistan International Airlines management continued into the third day on Saturday as PALPA representatives refused to hold talks with the PIA officials, compelling the federal government to intervene in the matter.
PM’s Adviser on Aviation Shujaat Azeem has summoned the PIA management and PALPA representatives in Islamabad in a bid to end the dispute, which has caused severe inconvenience to air travelers as at least 51 flights of the national flag carrier have failed to take off for their scheduled destinations.
According to a PIA official, two more flights – Karachi to Lahore and Lahore to Quetta were cancelled after pilots of both aircraft refused to operate flights under PALPA pressure.
“PALPA has been requested repeatedly to end its illegal strike,” said PIA Director General Public Affairs Danial Gillani.
“Cancellation of flights has affected 5,500 passengers,” the spokesman said, adding that the government is giving priority to smoothly complete the post-hajj flight operation despite strike of pilots.
At least 51 flights have been canceled during the past three days and several others were delayed or re-routed. The PIA management has laid the blame on its pilots for creating the crisis, while PALPA has accused the airline’s management of inefficiency and mismanagement.
PALPA President Amir Hashmi has alleged Shujaat Azeem of promoting his own business while neglecting the national flag carrier. He claimed that the administration wanted to sell the PIA for “peanuts”.
Meanwhile, PIA Chairman Nasser Jaffer has said that over a dozen pilots who have refused to operate the flights on the pretext of illness would face legal action.
Vowing to resolve the dispute with PALPA, Jaffer said the management was trying its best that Hajj operations are not affected due to the crisis, which according to a PIA spokesman has not created any problem for more than 95 per cent operations of the airline.
The PIA chairman said the protesting pilots had demanded 100 per cent increase in their salaries. Jaffer also seemed at a loss to understand why PALPA was protesting.
“Civil Aviation Authority too has passed the buck to us,” he said.
