Passengers lament as 16 flights are delayed and 4 cancelled at Lahore Airport

LAHORE: At least 14 flights were delayed and 6 more were cancelled at Allama Iqbal airport here on Saturday due to technical and logistical problems in the air crafts.

The delays and cancellations are nothing new coming from the Lahore Airport and the PIA, whose flights are being cancelled and delayed in large amounts on a daily basis, but the amount of flights affected is high even by their standards.

According to the flight inquiry desk at the airport, PIA flight 27o from Lahore to Delhi, flight 271 from Delhi to Lahore were both cancelled and passengers were left with no clear direction as to what to do. Local flights including PK 312 from Karachi to Lahore and PK 315 from Lahore to Karachi were also cancelled amid technical errors.

Adding to the woes of the passengers, Emirate Air’s flight 624 due from Dubai to Lahore was also delayed by 2 hours 50 minutes, while flight 625 from Lahore to Dubai took off after a 3 hour delay. PIA flight PK 757 from Lahore to London also took to the air 3 hours 30 minutes late.

Taban air’s flight 7208 from Lahore to Mashad also met a 3 and a half-hour delay and is expected to leave today (Saturday) at 16 00. Air Blue’s flight 477 from Medina to Lahore has also been delayed and is expected to arrive by 18 30, while flight 476 from Lahore to Medina was 45 minutes late.

Qatar Air’s flight from Lahore to Doha was also delayed by an hour and 45 minutes, while flight 620 from Doha to Lahore arrived after a two-hour delay. PIA flight 759 from Lahore to Jeddah was also delayed by an hour. Shaheen Air’s flight to Riadh was also met with an hour 30 minute delay. Turkish airline flight 715 was 30 minutes late while PIA’s flight incoming from Tokyo was 90 minutes late.

The technical difficulties come at a time when people are beginning to question the safety of air travel, and 20 flights being effected does nothing to breed confidence for the aviation authorities among people.