PIA strike takes a toll on airport businesses

KARACHI:

In 22 years of service, I have never seen the airport this deserted, commented Saleem Mirza, a porter at Jinnah International Airport on Friday.

"This is highly unfair on hardworking labourers," he complained as his voice echoed around the barely-filled airport on Friday.



As the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) employees' strike entered its fourth day, the protest began to take its toll on businesses at the airport along with the already suffering passengers.

Tuck shops and metro cab services have been left to deal with one-fourth of customers as only private airlines are flying in and out of the airport at the moment.

The private taxi companies, porters, and tuck shops, all eagerly await the restoration of PIA's flight operations.

A metro cab driver, Imran, complained, "They should think about us at least, our earning is totally based upon the passenger load at the airport." Another driver told The Express Tribune that business was down by 50% since the PIA planes were grounded [following the killing of two employees at the anti-privatisation protest on Tuesday]. Asif Javed, a salesman at a tuck shop, also confirmed that business was adversely affected, but hoped that in a day or two things would get better.



Porters, who are otherwise used to passengers running after them, said the tables have turned as now they are eyeing potential passengers in need of porters. Pervez Ahmed, a porter, explained that their income is mostly dependent on tips given by passengers and with their [passengers] disappearance, things have gotten really bad in terms of making money.

Ali, a passenger at the airport, said that the people are suffering due to the strike, but added that it would be unfair to blame the PIA workers for the entire problem. Nevertheless, it is high time to find a permanent solution to the issue, he said further.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2016.