SEAP accused of sabotaging PIA sell-off

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled five flights and adjusted passenger loads after an attempt by its engineers' union to disrupt operations, the national flag carrier said in a statement on Friday.

The airline claimed that the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP), a derecognised entity, tried to halt PIA's operations during the late hours of Thursday "with a nefarious design to sabotage the privatisation process".

"The management team, along with key post holders of the Engineering Department, immediately responded. By using alternative means and working tirelessly overnight and during the day, they restored operations, thus mitigating the impact of already delayed flights," the statement said.

PIA confirmed that five flights were cancelled after load readjustments, and alternate arrangements were offered to affected passengers. The airline assured that flight operations were being fully restored and that "customer convenience remains our utmost priority."

Following revised scheduling and crew adjustments, two international flights - Karachi to Toronto (PK-783) with 104 passengers and Islamabad to Manchester (PK-701) with 329 passengers - departed on time.

However, seven flights experienced delays, including Lahore to Madina (PK-747), Karachi to Jeddah (PK-761), Karachi to Islamabad (PK-300), Islamabad to Madina (PK-741), Islamabad to Dubai (PK-233), Islamabad to Dammam (PK-245) and Sialkot to Riyadh (PK-755).

PIA said it remained focused on minimising disruptions and ensuring passengers reach their destinations safely as operations return to normal.