Disarray in the air

It is crucial that the matter be handled coolly, logically and with the purpose of bringing long-term benefit to PIA.

The chaos that has overtaken PIA has affected thousands of passengers, with many of them stranded at Islamabad International Airport, and according to some reports, inflicted a loss of Rs750 million on the airline. Dozens of domestic flights and a few international ones have failed to leave the ground. Pilots, engineers, flight attendants and ground crew have all joined in. Show cause notices, dismissal orders and attempts to arrest the striking crew have not had the slightest effect. Nor have attempts to talk with representatives of the Joint Action Committee made up of PIA employees. A new round of talks on February 9 failed, after government representatives refused to commit to a dismissal of the PIA MD as demanded by employees. There was also an ugly clash between Airport Security Force personnel and officials.

The real issue, of course, is the deal with Turkish airlines, which employees wish to see cancelled. Under it, in a plan which PIA managers say was aimed at reducing the massive losses suffered by the airline, it had been decided to sell some key routes to Turkish Air. These included the routes to Manchester and New York, usually plied by packed flights. PIA staff, who fear massive lay-offs once the deal goes through, have been expressing their reservations. They also ask how selling off some of the airline’s most lucrative routes can curb losses and point out that while PIA says it is in a state of loss, it still doles out massive salaries to senior staff.

The issues raised by the employees are relevant. What is still more crucial is that the matter be handled coolly, logically and with the purpose of bringing long-term, rather than merely short-term, benefit to PIA. A huge mistake was made by failing to talk to employees earlier and take them into confidence before the deal was signed. As things stand now, the government also needs to review the deal. It must assess what its impact will be and do all it can to save PIA from slipping into a still greater state of crisis. The multiple issues within it need to be examined, but all those who keep the airline flying must be consulted rather than going about matters in the way the Turkish deal was handled.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2011.