Going nowhere: Protest against Umrah flight delays
Pilgrims scheduled to fly out on Saturday were told that PIA was unable to fly them out that day.
Pilgrims scheduled to fly out on Saturday were told that PIA was unable to fly them out that day. PHOTO: FILE.
RAWALPINDI:
Scores of Umrah pilgrims staged a protest against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday over the prolonged delays in their flights.
Wearing ahrams and holding luggage, dozens of pilgrims including women and children demonstrated at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.
The pilgrims were scheduled to fly out on Saturday. However, due to problems with the aircraft, they had to wait for several hours. Finally, they were told that the PIA was unable to fly them out that day.
“After hours of waiting, we are now being told to wait till Sunday afternoon,” said Raees Khan, a pilgrim.
Throughout the day, the passengers kept visiting various counters at the airport to get information about their flights, but to no avail.
“We are being told to wait till Sunday noon. It is difficult for us to spend a night at a hotel with the luggage,” said a passenger.
PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar said that due to a technical fault in one of PIA’s aircraft, Umrah flights were delayed, adding that passengers would be provided an alternate flight on Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2014.
Scores of Umrah pilgrims staged a protest against Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Saturday over the prolonged delays in their flights.
Wearing ahrams and holding luggage, dozens of pilgrims including women and children demonstrated at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.
The pilgrims were scheduled to fly out on Saturday. However, due to problems with the aircraft, they had to wait for several hours. Finally, they were told that the PIA was unable to fly them out that day.
“After hours of waiting, we are now being told to wait till Sunday afternoon,” said Raees Khan, a pilgrim.
Throughout the day, the passengers kept visiting various counters at the airport to get information about their flights, but to no avail.
“We are being told to wait till Sunday noon. It is difficult for us to spend a night at a hotel with the luggage,” said a passenger.
PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar said that due to a technical fault in one of PIA’s aircraft, Umrah flights were delayed, adding that passengers would be provided an alternate flight on Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2014.