ISLAMABAD, Feb 07 (APP): The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
on Sunday restored its partial flight operation by operating over a dozen domestic and international flights during last 24 hours.
The PIA employees have been observing strike for the last six
days. However, the PIA management through its dedicated efforts was able
to restore the flight operation partially.
The airlines operated flights from three airports, including
Lahore, Islamabad and Gilgit.
On Sunday morning, two Boeing 777 flights PK7330 and PK760, carrying more than 700 Umrah pilgrims reached Islamabad, a PIA spokesman said.
Another flight was operated from Islamabad to Dubai while PK 655 arrived Lahore.
The spokesman also clarrified that some media reports regarding imposition of fine on the two PIA flights in Saudi Arabia were not
correct.
The amount being mentioned in the media was paid as fee to local aviation authorities for getting extra slot for these special flights operated by the airline, he added.
The spokesman said keeping in view the difficulties being faced by Umra Zaireen (pilgrims) stranded in Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing strike by PIA unions, the two Boeing 777 planes were sent to Jeddah to bring back
them. The flights PK-741 and PK-7329 departed for Jeddah at around 2 am
Sunday.
All the departments of PIA worked as a great team and made the
flights possible, he said, adding that all the PIA staff members had
been asked to resume duties and save their airline.
“The PIA is doing its best to look after its passengers and feels profoundly sorry for the inconvenience caused to all the valued PIA passengers due to illegal strike,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, an ATR flight was operated on Islamabad-Gilgit-Islamabad route early morning carrying full load.