Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the flag carrier of Pakistan, is facing a severe fuel shortage that has disrupted its flight operations and stranded hundreds of passengers. The airline has cancelled more than 100 flights, both domestic and international since Friday, due to non-payment of dues to Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the main supplier of jet fuel to the airline
According to PIA spokesperson, the airline has paid over Rs220 million (≈£650,000) to PSO for the weekend, but the state-owned oil company has stopped providing fuel to PIA despite securing the payments. The spokesperson claimed that the flight operations were ‘completely suspended’ due to suspension of the fuel supply and a total of 77 flights were cancelled on Sunday alone.
However, PSO refuted the claims of fuel supply suspension and said that it had provided fuel for almost 64 flights since Friday night despite the suspension. They also added that PIA had a list of 39 priority flights for fuel supply, which was being followed by the corporation and PIA’s payout limit for Saturday and Sunday was still pending as the airline had not provided flight schedules for the remaining flights.
The fuel crisis has affected PIA’s domestic and international routes, including flights to Dubai, Dammam, Madinah, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Quetta, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Peshawar and Rahim Yar Khan. The airline maintains a fleet of 33 aircraft consisting of 12 Boeing 777’s, 15 Airbus A320’s and 6 ATR’s.  Moreover, Passengers have been facing inconvenience and frustration due to the cancellation and delay of flights and some of them have also complained about the lack of communication and assistance from the airline’s staff.
Wikimedia Commons: Asuspine
PIA is currently facing a financial crunch and has liabilities of Rs.743 billion (approx. £7.5 billion), surpassing its assets by five times. The airline has been struggling to pay its employees’ salaries and pensions, as well as its debts to various creditors including aircraft parking charges at a few airports. The caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed authorities to expedite the privatization process of PIA.
However, PSO has reportedly restored the supply of jet fuel to PIA on Monday after receiving some payments from the airline. Although, the situation remains uncertain as both entities are locked in a dispute over outstanding dues. . The PIA spokesperson said that 61 flights were scheduled for Monday, of which 42 were international and 19 were domestic. He expressed hope that the flight operations would resume normally soon.
PIA had the privilege to be the launch of customer of the Boeing 777-200LR, and holds the record for the longest flight ever undertaken by a commercial aircraft, with total flight duration of 22 hours and 22 minutes, a record that remains unbroken to this day.
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