Great people: New York-bound flight delayed by 13 hours
PIA-PALPA tiff disturbs flight operations at airport
LAHORE:
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said on Saturday that a New York-bound flight had been delayed by nearly 14 hours after the pilot had reported sick.
He said the flight had been delayed due to a shortage of pilots. Tajwar said the issue had been amicably resolved. He said some officials had incorrectly related the issue to nonpayment of allowances as the Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) had raised the issue separately.
Tajwar said the association had demanded that the dues to be paid in one go. He said the management had offered to clear the dues in three installments over three weeks.
A PIA official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the pilots of flight PK 711 to New York had refused to fly the aircraft from Allama Iqbal International Airport due to the failure of the management to clear outstanding allowances. He said the flight, originally scheduled to depart at 6.15am on Saturday, was delayed by nearly 14 hours and departed at 8:04pm. The flight was going to New York via Manchester. He said PALPA had asked the management to immediately clear Rs80 million dues.
The official said the pilots had refused to fly the aircraft as the management had not fulfilled the demand.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Mashood Tajwar said on Saturday that a New York-bound flight had been delayed by nearly 14 hours after the pilot had reported sick.
He said the flight had been delayed due to a shortage of pilots. Tajwar said the issue had been amicably resolved. He said some officials had incorrectly related the issue to nonpayment of allowances as the Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) had raised the issue separately.
Tajwar said the association had demanded that the dues to be paid in one go. He said the management had offered to clear the dues in three installments over three weeks.
A PIA official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the pilots of flight PK 711 to New York had refused to fly the aircraft from Allama Iqbal International Airport due to the failure of the management to clear outstanding allowances. He said the flight, originally scheduled to depart at 6.15am on Saturday, was delayed by nearly 14 hours and departed at 8:04pm. The flight was going to New York via Manchester. He said PALPA had asked the management to immediately clear Rs80 million dues.
The official said the pilots had refused to fly the aircraft as the management had not fulfilled the demand.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2014.