PIA asks crew members to pay or vacate hotel

Later the airline sent an email, asking hotel management to to extend stay of all cabin crew till further intimation

LAHORE: The crisis hit Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) apparently asked its cabin crew members staying at a private hotel in Lahore to either vacate their rooms or pay for the stay on their own.

A letter issued by the PIA asked the crew members staying at the Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore to check out of the hotel by 12 noon on Saturday. A copy of the letter is available with The Express Tribune.



According to the letter, the directions were issued as per the instructions of PIA Flight Services General Manager Yaqoob Naeem and directed the crew members to get in touch with PIA Lahore Base Incharge Zia Akhtar for any assistance.



However, while talking to the scribe Akhtar denied that any such letter was issued. Around 60 crew members have been staying at the hotel and the airlines was paying for their stay, said Akhter adding that some of them had checked out on their own.

A receptionist at the PC Lahore confirmed that cabin crew members were staying at the hotel but refused to comment when asked if PIA had been paying for their stay. He also refused to comment on the letter issued by the PIA.



In an email exchange, available with The Express Tribune, from earlier in the day, PIA Lahore asked the hotel management to extend the stay of all PIA cabin crew till further intimation.



The PIA operations have been suspended for past five days as its workers are protesting against the proposed privatisation of the national flag carrier.