PIA in financial difficulty due to suspension of flight operation

Dunya News

The step is aimed at easing the burden faced by PIA at a time when business has grinded to a halt

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Due to the suspension of flight operation across the country amid the coronavirus outbreak, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is experiencing intense financial difficulty.

In view of the worsening situation, PIA officials have decided to take voluntary salary cuts.

According to a statement issued by a PIA spokesman, Chief Executive Officer PIA Arshad Malik has voluntarily cut his salary by 20 percent.

Additional salary cuts include 20% for Department Chief Officers, 15% for General Managers, 10% for Deputy General Managers and 8% for Managers. This step is aimed at easing the burden faced by the International airlines at a time when business has come to a grinding halt.

PIA previously announced the flight ban starting Saturday that will run through April 4, Abdul Sattar Khokar, a spokesman for the official Civil Aviation Authority, said in a statement.

Hours earlier, the government had announced suspension of all international flights operated by the national airline, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), for a week.

“After carefully examining all options, the Government of Pakistan has decided to suspend operation of all international passenger, chartered, and private flights to Pakistan, effective from 21st March 2020 (2000 hrs local time) to 4th April 2020 (2000 hrs local time),” the statement added.