Air League of PIA employees condemns management

[Abbas Ali]

KARACHI, Nov 10: PIA workers, referring to a reported ban on landing of certain PIA aircraft in Europe, have condemned the top management of the national airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority for bringing the country to this embarrassing situation and demanded that the issue be probed and action be taken against those involved.

Speaking at a Press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Friday, representatives of the Air League of the PIA Employees (CBA) criticized the management for ill-planned purchase of expensive long-haul aircraft without getting permission for direct flights to North American destinations.

Pointing out that the salaries of employees had not been increased for the past many years owing to which a large number of its employees, particularly the technical people, had left the organization, but a large number of people having no experience of airline working have been appointed at astronomical salaries.

They said though the safety body, Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA), had been pointing towards deficiencies in the PIA aircraft for a long time, PIA and the CAA did not take any notice, and eventually the ban was imposed.

They alleged that the PIA chief, Tariq Kirmani, neglected the engineering department so a large number of employees joined other airlines which affected PIA aircraft’s operational efficiency.

Demanding immediate lifting of the ban on trade union activities in the airlines, they said that they had been raising these issues for a long time, but no action was taken to bring about any improvement, and many union leaders were sacked.

They said that the PIA had purchased Boeing 777-200LR long range aircraft while it has failed to get the permission for direct flights and now high maintenance cost was incurred on their operation on smaller routes.

They said that while the salaries of the employees have not been raised for a long time, even the bonus and ad hoc payment announced by the prime minister on the occasion of Eid were not paid.

They said bonus had not been paid for over five years, medical facilities had been curtailed, and juniors were being promoted over seniors which was causing resentment among workers.

They said that while the salaries of the regular employees were not being reviewed, a large number of contractual employees had been appointed at astronomical packages.

Shamim Akmal, Aziz-ur-Rehman, Sajid Abbasi, Rehan Butt, Sher Aman and others demanded that a professional be given charge of the PIA who could make the airlines financially viable.

Source: DAWN

[Abdullah Saleem]

They said that the PIA had purchased Boeing 777-200LR long range aircraft while it has failed to get the permission for direct flights and now high maintenance cost was incurred on their operation on smaller routes.

Why did'nt pia sell the 777-200LR?

[flyingsystem]

Shamim Akmal, Aziz-ur-Rehman, Sajid Abbasi, Rehan Butt, Sher Aman and others demanded that a professional be given charge of the PIA who could make the airlines financially viable.

Thats what we are asking for a long time...

[Adnan Anwar]

They said that the PIA had purchased Boeing 777-200LR long range aircraft while it has failed to get the permission for direct flights and now high maintenance cost was incurred on their operation on smaller routes.

Why did'nt pia sell the 777-200LR?

The writer of the editorial is on crack, 777-200LR operates one route from Pakistan to Toronto. This is route is not a small route and PIA is milking money from this route.

Second, no reason to sell 777-200LR the aircraft offers great potential other unexplored routes in future. Every aircraft requires miantenance, the author is trying to portray as if others jets only require oil changes like a car. I think everyone should stop listening to media and leave this experts and also read about it from reliable sources.