Flight cancellations lead to losses of over Rs1 billion

Pakistan Internatonal Airlines has suffered an estimated loss of more than Rs1 billion following the cancellation of a dozen local and international flights, an airline spokesperson claimed on Sunday.

The flights were cancelled as a direct consequence of the go-slow policy adopted by Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (Palpa) over the last nine days. Up to 62 flights have also been delayed since that time, the national air carrier’s spokesperson said.

At the same time, negotiations between the pilots association and the joint secretary of the defence ministry came to an inconclusive end on Saturday.

The go-slow policy has been put into effect by pilots, who claim that an agreement signed in 2009 has not been implemented.

The agreement includes matters regarding pensions, tickets, allowances and duty hours.

Pilots can legally refuse to fly if they claim to be unfit. PIA alleges that this is being done deliberately as part of the go-slow policy.

“During the last two weeks the management has repeatedly requested Palpa for a dialogue which they refused on the pretext that the go-slow has now gained momentum and their talks with the management would break the tempo,” local news agency PPI quoted a PIA spokesperson as saying. Thirteen captains and first officers refused to operate scheduled flights causing an estimated loss of over Rs one billion to the airline.

Over the past week, Palpa has accused PIA of not adhering to international safety regulations and forcing pilots to fly for 17 hours-well above the 10-hour limit.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2010.