PIA passengers stranded in plane as airline workers protest against new tax

The plane, which landed at Islamabad airport, could not be attached to a staircase as staff was protesting

Passengers of a Pakistan International Airlines flight were stranded in the plane for over 30 minutes after workers of the airline protested against new tax rates.

The flight, which landed at Benzair Bhutto International Airport from Karachi, could not be attached to a staircase as the flight operation staff was protesting.

The national flag carrier’s Collective Bargaining Agent, angered by the airline’s decision to cut Rs2,500 as tax from employees’ monthly salary, announced to hold a demonstration at Islamabad airport today.

“The workers are right in their demands and we are negotiating with them, the matter will be resolved soon,” PIA spokesperson Rana Muhammad Hanif told The Express Tribune.

Regarding the flight delay, the spokesperson said, “First, flight operations started protesting and as other operations joined in there was no staff leading to delays.”

“But the issue will be resolved shortly,” he assured.