Soaring high: PIA flights uninterrupted at BKIA

PALPA blamed for deadlock in talks

PESHAWAR: Even though dozens of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights were cancelled in other cities, its operation remained undisturbed in the provincial capital.

According to PIA officials, the ongoing tussle between the management and Pakistan Air Line Pilots Association (Palpa) has not affected a single flight in Peshawar. They said while PIA pilots were pressing the management to meet their demands, they were still doing their job and PIA flights remained operational at Bacha Khan International Airport (BKIA).

One of the officials, requesting anonymity, said, “Some flights were delayed, however, that was more due to technical difficulties than an outcome of the current rift between the managerial staff and Palpa.” He added the Palpa strike was causing passengers a lot of problems.

When contacted, shift manager Azmatullah said the situation in Peshawar was normal and besides Hajj flights, routine flights were also being operated from BKIA. “Technical issues have caused flight delays but no fight has been cancelled so far,” he said.

Azmatullah told The Express Tribune that passengers were informed at least a day prior to the cancellation of the flight. “However, in case of technical issues, we inform them an hour or two before the flight.”

Aviation authorities waited for the entire day on Saturday to hold a meeting with representatives of Palpa pilots associated with the national flag carrier but to no avail. The aviation division blames Palpa for the deadlock in talks as the gruelling strike lingers on.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2015.