PIA flights late due to scarcity of planes, LHC told

[Naveed Yaseen]

LAHORE: Over 55 percent domestic flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were delayed during the last 70 days due to the scarcity of aeroplanes, PIA officials conceded in a report submitted before the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday.

The report revealed the national carrier had only four functional planes out of six while the total number of planes should be seven as per the set standard. LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Khawaja Muhammad Sharif was hearing suo motu proceedings of delay in PIA flights and had sought record of all the delayed flights at the Lahore and Rawalpindi stations from May 1 to July 7.

From Lahore to Islamabad, 63 percent flights were delayed in May, 48 percent in June while 55 percent flights lagged behind the scheduled time in the first week of July, the report said. It added that from Islamabad to Lahore, 70 percent flights were delayed in May, 53 percent in June while 65 percent flights could not reach their destination on stipulated time in the first week of July. The report also blamed private airlines for contributing in delay of PIA flights. These companies undertook at the time of obtaining licences that they would introduce flights on non-profitable routes, but they did not fulfil their commitment, it said. During the proceeding, a lawyer Haji Aslam, who had recently returned after performing Umra, told the court about the poor performance of PIA.

He said he had a problem with his immigration at Jeddah Airport and he went to the PIA counter, but the officers paid no heed to his complaint for quite some time.

He also complained about the excessive increase in PIA fare for Umra and Haj. He said PIA was charging Rs 50,000 for Umra while other airlines were charging only Rs 35,000. The counsel further said the airlines in other countries of the world offered lower fares to the passengers for religious and national festivals. At this, the CJ observed it was highly regrettable that PIA increased fares manifold during Ramzan and Haj.

As far as the delay in flights was concerned, the CJ directed PIA Managing Director Ijaz Haroon to rectify faults in the system and submit a report by August 15. The CJ further directed the MD to ensure the presence of officials at airports to listen to people’s complaints and apprise them of correct reason of delay.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg7_22