PIA flights cancelled as pilots’ protest continues

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI: A tussle between the management and pilots of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) over increase in salaries and other benefits continued on Tuesday, causing cancellation of at least five international flights.

A meeting between the Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (PALPA) and the management was held here to end an unannounced strike by aggrieved pilots and it ended without any decision, airlines’ officials told The News.

“There was no progress made in negotiations as PIA MD Capt Aijaz Haroon did not attend the meeting,” said a PALPA press release issued in the evening. Pilots, who are seeking increase in wages and other emoluments, have stopped flying, causing flight delays and cancellation. They want a 35 per cent increase in their salaries, monthly education allowance for their children and chauffeur-driven cars for senior fraternity members.

Haroon, himself a pilot, has refused to bow down to their demands saying Rs600 million have been spent on pay raise of pilots in 2005-07. According to the management, the salaries of about 450 pilots working for PIA, range between Rs150,000 and Rs600,000. PIA, which has accumulated losses of Rs72 billion, is looking forward to announcing a profit this year on hope of lower fuel price, stable rupee and higher revenue through the airlines network expansion. The flights cancelled on Tuesday included return flights on routes of Islamabad-Oslo-Copenhagen, Lahore-London and a one way flight back to Islamabad from Abu Dhabi. “All flights were cancelled because pilots did not report duties,” a PIA spokesman said. Six domestic flights were also delayed because of the confrontation between pilots and the management.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=173585