Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has declared all Air Conditioned (AC) vans of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) at Islamabad airport misfit for operations; it was learnt here on Saturday. According to sources, the action was taken by PCAA after ground inspection of vehicles.
They said that a team of PCAA had conducted a ground inspection of PIA's all AC vans at Islamabad airport, following complaints of passengers. Moreover, sources said that two recent female passengers went unconscious in these dilapidated vans during the recent heatwave that forced the PCAA to carry out a physical inspection. Sources further said that PCAA team after inspection had declared all PIA's AC vans misfit for operations and the authority in this regard had also issued warning to the airline.
When contacted spokesman for PCAA Pervaiz George said the organization by conducted a ground inspection of PIA vehicles at Islamabad airport, saying that a team of PCAA had found that majority of PIA vehicles were not in working condition. He said that PCAA had warned the national flag carrier to carry out maintenance work shortly and added that they were planning to initiate a similar action at other airports to ensure best services to passengers. Meanwhile, Aamir Memon, spokesman for PIA said that PCAA had raised questions on the vulnerability and the performance of vehicles. He said that airline in its response intimated the PCAA that they were in a process of replacing all these vehicles with new ones but it would take at least a month.