LAHORE (Dunya News) – The fuel shortage triggered by a persistent financial crisis continues to hamper the flight operation of PIA – the national flag carrier – amid the pressure exerted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to dispose of the lossmaking state-owned enterprises.
On Monday, another 27 flights had to be cancelled in continuation of the recent trend that started this month but became more visible last week as the PIA failed to pay dues to the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) – another SOE, albeit profitable, which supplies jet to the airline.
Seven of these cancelled flights concerned the Karachi airport – both inbound and outbound – on the Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan and Peshawar routes.
Meanwhile, six more flights to Multan, Islamabad and Dubai from Karachi will also won’t be operated.
On the other hand, two Saudi Arabia-bound flights, including one to Jeddah, are cancelled from Multan.
As far as Lahore is concerned, the international airport saw four flights being cancelled. It included Lahore-Sharjah, Lahore-Dubai and Jeddah-Lahore routes.
Meanwhile, seven PIA flights from Islamabad to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damam, Madina, Jeddah and Quetta as well as a Peshawar-Dubai flight are on the list.
The latest disruption in operations comes as a PIA spokesperson said that 60 flights – 42 international and 18 domestic – were scheduled for the day. He added that the international flights were a priority for the airline.