KARACHI – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reduced staff by nearly1,000 by laying off surplus employees besides other measures to slash theoperational cost of the enterprise.
According to a statement by Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association (PALPA),eight pilots have resigned this year while others are considering the sameoption owing to poor policies and unfair scheduling of flights by themanagement of the airline.
The relived pilots have said that due to the stress at work, they had toperform their duties under pressure or endure serious consequences.
In a letter to the Director-General Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority(PCAA), PALPA President Rizwan Gondal cited double sets/augmented crew asthe reason behind the pilots’ resignation.
“PIACL has recently introduced some changes in FDTL planning which carriesa very high element of fatigue,” the letter stated and warned that thecost-cutting exercise is actually compromising flight safety.
Gondal further mentioned that these augmented flights were in violation ofthe bilateral PALPA-PIAC Working Agreement 2011-2013 and this new flightsituation would not permit pilots to avail the allocated rest time, whilerest periods before and after the flights are not defined by the operatorand are not reflected on their rosters.
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The official said PIACL schedule has failed to keep in mind the effects offatigue, compounding adverse effect on crew health and therefore safety ofthe flight.
“Majority of our crew are reluctant to accept these flights. However, thoseon contract are forced to carry out these duties under pressure in fear oflosing their contracts,” Gondal stated.
The warning comes days after Prime Minister Imran Khan approved thepurchase of additional planes for Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA)existing fleet.
According to Air Marshal Malik, overall 12 new planes will be added toPIA’s fleet by 2023. In the initial stage, four planes will be added to thefleet by 2020.
