Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has canceled more than 50 flights as of Tuesday, due to restrictions on daily fuel supply resulting from unpaid dues, as reported by local media outlets.
On Tuesday, at least 24 domestic and international flights were canceled, with an additional 12 experiencing delays. The national carrier of Pakistan has also canceled more than two dozen flights for Wednesday, including 16 international and 13 domestic routes, while delaying several others, according to a report in Dawn. The cancellation of flights was attributed to a limited daily fuel supply for PIA planes and other operational factors, according to a statement from a PIA spokesperson. Some flights had to be rescheduled for the same reasons.
The list of canceled international departures includes flights to destinations such as Dubai, Muscat, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait. PIA assured affected passengers that they were being accommodated on alternative flights and encouraged them to contact its call center, offices, or their travel agents before heading to the airport.
In response to the canceled flights on Tuesday, a PIA spokesperson disclosed that the airline's management and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) were in negotiations until late Monday night to resolve the situation and restore smooth flight operations, as reported by Dawn.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has already instructed authorities to expedite the privatization process of PIA, which has been grappling with a prolonged financial crisis. In September, Prime Minister Kakar instructed Privatization Minister Fawad Hassan Fawad to oversee the process during a meeting where concerns related to the financially troubled national carrier were discussed. In the same meeting, the prime minister emphasized the need to address these issues to provide reliable services to users and elevate the standards of the national carrier. According to a report in Dawn, PIA has grounded several aircraft as it continues to seek the necessary funds for sustaining its operations in the coming months.