PIA flight operations resume after delays

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) experienced operational disruptions this week due to technical issues, maintenance delays and staff availability issues. The management team, along with key engineering staff, worked tirelessly to restore operations and minimize the impact on scheduled flights.

Several aircraft were temporarily unavailable due to technical faults and routine maintenance requirements. An aircraft registered AP-BMX, operating flight PK-308 (Karachi-Islamabad), was taken out of service due to a defect in the exhaust cone of engine No. 1, leading to the cancellation of PK-308/309 and PK-451/452.

Islamabad-Karachi flight PK-369 was canceled on Thursday evening, while return flights between Islamabad and Skardu (PK-451/452) were also cancelled. Other flights experiencing delays included PK-287 (Islamabad-Doha), PK-286 (Doha-Peshawar) and PK-217 and PK-262 (Peshawar-Abu Dhabi-Islamabad). The Dubai-Sialkot flight was grounded in Dubai due to a brake system problem.

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Delays and cancellations were related to ongoing maintenance schedules and the unavailability of technical personnel and spare parts. The Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP) has emphasized that maintenance activities prioritize safety and compliance with airworthiness standards, even if operational adjustments are necessary.

Flight status after restoration

Following adjustments in revised time slots and crew arrangements, PIA reported the following:

Departures on time:

Delayed departures:

• PK-747 (Lahore-Medina) – 14 hours late, 316 passengers

• PK-761 (Karachi – Jeddah) – 12 hours late, 160 passengers

• PK-300 (Karachi-Islamabad) – 4 hours late, 139 passengers

• PK-741 (Islamabad–Medina) – 6 hours late, 305 passengers

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• PK-233 (Islamabad – Dubai) – 9 hours late, 162 passengers

• PK-245 (Islamabad – Dammam) – 7 hours late, 180 passengers

• PK-755 (Skardu – Riyadh) – 7 hours late, 142 passengers

Five flights were canceled after load adjustments, with alternative arrangements offered to affected passengers.

PIA confirmed that flight operations have been fully restored and passenger comfort remains a top priority. The airline highlighted the importance of qualified technical staff, availability of essential spare parts and effective fleet planning and scheduling to support smooth running of operations and minimize future disruptions.