Pakistan International Airlines Managing Director rejects 2 Airbuses on lease

LAHORE - PIA Managing Director Nadeem Yousufzai has rejected the summary of taking two Airbuses A320 on wet lease.

A statement from PALPA head office on Saturday said that professional unions of PIA employees met Nadeem at PIA Head Office and suggested him not to take Airbuses A320 on wet lease (along with crew). The management should strive to bring the grounded aircraft of the airline into operations after necessary overhauling, the association suggested.

In another development however regarding formation of counter corruption committee, the representatives from Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA), Society of Aircraft Engineers PIA (SAEP), Flight Engineers Association (FENA) and Aircraft Technicians Association of PIA (ATAP) have withdrawn their names from the same after the management of national flag carrier announced few nominations that were not part of original proposal. The professional unions had advised that if more aircraft are inevitable, option should be explored for Boeing 737 which is already in service at PIA and the airline has full support from both HR and engineering perspective. PALPA President Captain Suhail Baloch, said that the airline is already criticized for having more than needed employees. He questioned that how the management could justify bringing additional flight, cabin and engineering crew with more leased aircraft. Therefore, he added, the associations have conveyed to the management that any such agreement of leasing aircraft will not be acceptable to the employees of the airline.

He said that it is strange that the national carrier has already five aircraft of latest 300 series of Boeing 747 out of which two are grounded. The management entered into millions of dollars dubious deal to acquire two Boeing 747 of old 200 series, he added.

Captain Suhail Baloch said that the administration should get its 6 to 7 grounded aircraft ready for operations after necessary repairs, but leasing of the aircraft with crew will further increase its problems. Commenting on the formulation of PIA Advisory Committee by the PIA, PALPA Spokesman said that the committee is comprised of non-serious representatives which will bear no gain in terms of preventing corruption in the airline’s functioning, therefore, PALPA, SAEP, FENA and ATP together reject to become the part of the committee.

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