Engineers at Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have claimed that serious maintenance lapses and poor management decisions have reduced the airline’s operational fleet from 34 aircraft to just 12, according to a news report.
Speaking at a ceremony in Karachi on Friday, officials of the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP) accused PIA’s management of negligence and administrative failures. SAEP Secretary General said the decline was not due to engineers but to “non-technical and short-sighted” decisions by the administration.
He said the airline’s Canada operations were suspended after PIA failed to replace a plane’s landing gear within the given three-month deadline. The required equipment was eventually flown in from Germany, but without necessary tools, leaving the aircraft grounded.
He warned that improper maintenance procedures on Boeing 777 aircraft could render them unserviceable, adding that engineers were being pressured to clear technically defective aircraft for flights.
“We will never compromise on the safety of passengers or aircraft,” he said, noting that engineers were working under severe stress.
SAEP Secretary General said the engineers were not opposed to PIA’s privatization but called for “a permanent and responsible owner” to restore the airline’s operations. He added that the Certificate of Authorization would remain suspended until engineers were provided with a safe and pressure-free working environment.
