KARACHI: The condition of PakistanInternational Airlines (PIA) is terrible, as the ordinary repair works have not been completed after the passage of long time.
It is noted that due to this pathetic condition six or seven planes remain on ground all the time and because of this PIA has to take aircraft on lease. The situation should have been improved after a deal with Dubai-based aviation company Trans World Aviation for the supply of spare parts and facility of $700 million credit line, however, the situation is as it was as delay and cancellation of flights could not be controlled.
According to sources a 747-300 AP-BGG aircraft which is parked in a hanger for recheck, but its test flight on Saturday may not be carried out due to non-availability of its engines. This plane has been grounded due to shortage of engines since July 7, 2011. Besides it another 747-300 AP-BFV aircraft was grounded since October 10, 2011, due to non-availability of four of its engines. Its test flight is scheduled on November 18 on the condition of availability of engines.
Two engines of another 747 AP-BEC plane are required which was parked in the hanger since August 13, 2011, and its expected operational date is November 10, 2011. There is a shortage of one engine of Airbus 310 registration No AP-BEC which was grounded on October 24, 2011, and its expected operational date is November 18.
A PIA source said that the supply of spare parts from Trans World Aviation could not start and the shortfall of the parts persists. The French Aviation Authority has demanded a report from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority in connection with the protective faults of the PIA planes after one of them was grounded after inspection at the French airport. The French Civil Aviation director demanded a comprehensive report on the faults from Pakistan and asked to follow the European rules strictly.
According to sources, the performance of the high officers, appointed during the tenure of former PIA MD Ejaz Haroon, who used to take salaries in dollars, remained zero and despite taking heavy salaries they have not done any special service to the airline and due to this the airline is bearing millions of rupees loss.
The PIA has taken two old aircraft on lease due to shortage of planes. These aircrafts have been taken from unpopular airline Hailing Aviation. PIA has given permission to these planes for Haj flights. It is pertinent to note that Haj flights and domestic flight operation is badly affected due to fault and delay in repair of aircraft. Meanwhile, the representatives of PIA employees and other representative organisations held a meeting with the PIA MD. They expressed reservations on taking two old Jumbo aircraft on lease from the Greek company and signing of deal with Trans World Aviation for the supply of spare parts and demanded enquiry into it. (source:thenews.com.pk)
