Sword of Damocles hangs over national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines. The reason, its sloppy flight operations which may result in ban to operate flights to France and suspension of its flights on non-payment of long outstanding dues to General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia.
The story does not end at that. Hong Kong's department of health is also "waiting in the wings" to clamp a ban as PIA has failed to respond despite several reminders to produce disinfection certificate pertaining to its aircraft after a passenger was found suffering from malaria on board PK-892 that reached Kong Kong on October 11, 2013.
The management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has, indeed, become a sitting duck as a result of its non-professional dealing with international aviation community, thus endangering its operations to many countries in the days to come.
PIA has been operating flights to France for the last one year without getting schedule approval from their aviation authorities. 'The French Aviation authorities have been asking the management of PIA to take approval for flights they operate to France but the non-professional management is still indifferent to this very important issue and keep operating flights without schedule approval's, a source in PIA told Business Recorder here on Saturday.
He said that this non-serious approach could result in a ban on PIA, restricting it not to operate flights for France. 'Last week, the French aviation authorities wrote to PIA that they have not yet received the request for scheduled flights PIA is operating to France since last winter season (2013-14). This meant that PIA had been operating flights for the past one year without taking approval, which is height of non-professionalism and negligence,' added the source.
It is quite shocking, he questioned, why the management did not seek approval from French authorities and continued operating flights? 'As per rules, all requests/applications for scheduled flight operations for France need to get approved from French aviation authorities at least 30 days before actual operations,' the source said.
The French aviation authorities reminded PIA management on October 16, 2013 of this mandatory approval but PIA management did not bother to answer them. 'Even after that reminder, PIA management did not submit the schedule of their flights for winter season 2013-14 and summer season 2014. This is a clear example how badly the airline is being managed by non-professional staff,' he said.
The source said having no clue what PIA is going to do, French aviation authorities once again requested the management to inform them what PIA is intending to plan during next winter aeronautical season.
Similarly, the operations of PIA to Jeddah are in serious danger of suspension over non-payment of long outstanding dues to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia by the national airline.
According to the source, King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA) authorities have conveyed to the management of PIA a strict warning of President GACA that if the airline fails to clear its long outstanding dues they will not allow it to operate flights to Saudi Arabia.
'They gave last warning to PIA and clearly ordered not to schedule any flight to Jeddah if dues are not settled soon. They are removing the PIA flights from KAIA's system and could only allow them if the management clears the dues for 2012,' said the source.
The source further said that PIA has to pay outstanding amount regarding parking and rental charges which is covered under Royal decree. 'PIA management has to clear the amount on immediate basis due to the sensitivity of the issue. If they fail, PIA operations will surely be suspended for Saudi Arabia,' added the source.
PIA, the source further said, has also to pay old dues besides current charges. 'The management has been asked to settle old dues as well, particularly payment of disputed invoice (02-12-26-90033) dated December 19, 2005, amounting to SA Riyals of 443160 for excess parking charges.'
Besides this likely suspension of operations, PIA could also face non-approval of its summer-2014 program. 'The GACA has held the approval of PIA's summer-2014 landing schedule in abeyance till these outstanding payments are settled.'
Similarly, PIA management has not yet provided to Hong Kong's department of health with the certificates whether it has disinfected its Airbus A 310 (APBGR) or not which operated PK 892 last year on October 11 on which Hong Kong authorities had detained a malaria patient.
'The port health inspector of Hong Kong's department of health has been asking the management of PIA since December last to provide them with few documents, but to no avail. It was regarding a passenger who was found suffering from malaria while on board at Pk-892 that reached Hong Kong on October 11, 2013,' said the source.
They wrote to PIA management on December 14, 2013, to provide them with a scanned copy of the work sheet/job card/disinfection certificate regarding the disinfection done on the said aircraft (registration number APBGR) after October 11, 2013 for their record.
'They also asked for the flight schedule of the aircraft APBGR if it is coming to Hong Kong in February-March this year again for follow up inspection,' added the source.
And yet again they reminded the PIA management on February 5 this year to give them the said documents and information. 'Failing to receive any response from PIA, they once again asked for the said documents last week. It is feared that PIA's indifference to this issue would result in a ban on the airline to enter Hong Kong,' added the source.
On the other hand, the management is being helpless against the Czech crew of the two A-320 aircraft which were acquired on wet lease. 'The management has been told that the Czech crew would not operate the aircraft for Peshawar destination due to security issues. The Czech airline has officially informed the management about this development,' said the source.
He further added it is quite ridiculous and the PIA management is unable to do anything in this regard. 'Now the situation has come to a point where PIA management is being dictated by even foreign crew of leased aircraft. Will now PIA has to include a clause in future leasing agreements to get the foreign crews operate flights as per official schedules to any destination?' asked the source.
Whatever are the reasons, the above mentioned issues show that things have gone from bad to worst at PIA and the government will have to step in to set things right and stop heavy deterioration of this national asset, concluded the source.