Passengers protest cancellation of PIA flight to Skardu
Article 4.3.3 of NAP 2019 stipulates that operations of a carrier should be suspended if it defaulted on outstanding dues for a period equivalent to two fortnightly bills. PHOTO: FILE
Passengers of a Skardu-bound flight staged a sit-in in the departure lounge of the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) on Sunday after the flight was cancelled at the last minute.
A Pakistani International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-451 to Skardu was cancelled suddenly after keeping passengers waiting for several hours.
The PIA management announced that the flight had to be cancelled due to bad weather in Skardu. However, this failed to pacify the passengers who sat on the floor of the departure lounge.
Protestors said that before they arrived at the airport, officials had confirmed that there was no weather issue and that the flight would take off as per schedule. However, when they got to the airport, they were first made to wait for a long time and later told that the flight was cancelled due to bad weather.
PIA management later tried to pacify passengers but as many as 91 people refused to end the sit-in.
After they assured protesters that they will be provided accommodation and put on the next flight, the sit-in ended.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2020.