Pilots Strike: PALPA refuse talks with PIA management

Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA) today refused to hold talks with the management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Prime Minister’s aviation advisor Shujaat Azeem had summoned the management of PIA and PALPA officials in Islamabad in a bid to end the dispute causing cancellation of scores of international and domestic flights.

The passengers are facing immense problems as reportedly 51 flights of the national flag carrier have been cancelled and several others delayed due to the dispute.

Earlier Chairman PIA Nasir Jafar had said that the PIA’s doors are open for talks and urged the protesting pilots to lay their demands.

Speaking at a press conference, Jafar appealed the pilots to end their strike as the passengers are greatly distressed by it.

He said the president of Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (Palpa) is misleading the masses, adding, when administration sends off vehicles to pick up pilots, they made excuses of being ill and not able to fly.

“Our doors are opened for talks, but the pilots should also lay forth their demands,” said the chairman PIA.

Responding to a query, he said the airliner has no issue if the pilots do not want to operate a flight for more than ten hours, but they should at least be ready to fly for ten hours.

Noting the difficulties caused to passengers due to the strike, Nasir Jafar apologized them especially the Hajj pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia.