The PIA follows strict rules of visa requirements before boarding of any passenger.
A PIA spokesman was elaborating here on Wednesday after a news story on some TV news channels reported that a passenger was allowed boarding on a Lahore-Manchester-New York flight without visa.
He clarified that “the factual position is that a female passenger Zara Batool, a British National, holding a British passport had an EST (Electronic System Travel) Authorization number which is given to British passport holders for traveling to USA.
The PIA Staff at Lahore Airport checked and informed the passenger that her EST Number had expired”.
The passenger was asked to apply for a new EST number from the US which usually arrives quickly but in this case the renewal had not arrived and instead of delaying the flight waiting for the new EST number, she was given the understanding that since she is a British National she would only be allowed to travel up to Manchester on her British passport and if the EST number is not provided, she would be off loaded at Manchester.
Hence she was off loaded at Manchester and not allowed to travel to New York, the PIA spokesman added.
