NEW DELHI: Pakistan International Airlines was put to a halt due to lack of fuel on Sunday after Pakistan State Oil (PSO) cut the airlines’ fuel supply. Seventy-seven flights were cancelled, the Dawn reported.
The two state agencies were at odds with one another for the second time in less than seven days. PSO argues that the lack of fuel for PIA aircraft is due to growing unpaid dues.
The airlines is bearing a loss of Rs 750 billion and has been a subject to recurring crises.
On Sunday, 81 flights — 52 on foreign and 29 on local routes — were scheduled to depart from the national carrier. A spokesperson stated that all overseas flights were canceled except of four.
According to the spokesperson, flights from Lahore to Toronto and Kuala Lumpur, and from Islamabad to Beijing and Istanbul took off on Sunday.
Late at night, the spokesman reported that flight operation had been partially resumed and that flights to Jeddah were now leaving from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Multan.
He continued that another aircraft had also left Islamabad for Riyadh.
The airline reported 61 flights were scheduled for Monday (today). Of them, 19 will go domestically and 42 will travel internationally.
The Monday evening flights would take off as soon as a credit line was made available to cover the cost of the gasoline, the spokesperson said.
A specific schedule for the privatization of PIA was established during a meeting of the Privatization Commission last month. The government sought to sell off the losing state institution as quickly as possible, but no additional information was provided regarding the timing.
The two state agencies were at odds with one another for the second time in less than seven days. PSO argues that the lack of fuel for PIA aircraft is due to growing unpaid dues.
The airlines is bearing a loss of Rs 750 billion and has been a subject to recurring crises.
On Sunday, 81 flights — 52 on foreign and 29 on local routes — were scheduled to depart from the national carrier. A spokesperson stated that all overseas flights were canceled except of four.
According to the spokesperson, flights from Lahore to Toronto and Kuala Lumpur, and from Islamabad to Beijing and Istanbul took off on Sunday.
Late at night, the spokesman reported that flight operation had been partially resumed and that flights to Jeddah were now leaving from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Multan.
He continued that another aircraft had also left Islamabad for Riyadh.
The airline reported 61 flights were scheduled for Monday (today). Of them, 19 will go domestically and 42 will travel internationally.
The Monday evening flights would take off as soon as a credit line was made available to cover the cost of the gasoline, the spokesperson said.
A specific schedule for the privatization of PIA was established during a meeting of the Privatization Commission last month. The government sought to sell off the losing state institution as quickly as possible, but no additional information was provided regarding the timing.