PIA flights back on track after delays

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) experienced operational disruptions due to technical issues, maintenance delays and staff availability challenges this week. The management team, together with key personnel from the Engineering Department, worked tirelessly to restore operations and minimize the impact on scheduled flights.

Several aircraft were temporarily unavailable due to technical defects and routine maintenance requirements. An aircraft with AP-BMX registration, operational flight PK-308 (Karachi–Islamabad), was withdrawn from service due to a defect in the No. 1 engine exhaust cone, resulting in the cancellation of PK-308/309 and PK-451/452.

Islamabad-Karachi flight PK-369 was canceled on Thursday evening, while return flights between Islamabad and Skardu (PK-451/452) were also cancelled. Other flights that experienced delays included PK-287 (Islamabad-Doha), PK-286 (Doha-Peshawar) and PK-217 and PK-262 (Peshawar-Abu Dhabi-Islamabad). The Dubai-Sialkot flight was grounded in Dubai due to a brake system problem.

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The delays and cancellations were linked to ongoing maintenance plans and lack of availability of technical staff and spare parts. The Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SEAP) highlighted that maintenance activities prioritize safety and adherence to airworthiness standards, although operational adjustments are required.

Aircraft status after restoration

After adjustments in revised slots and crew arrangements, PIA reported the following:

Departures on time:

Delayed departures:

• PK-747 (Lahore–Medina) – 14 hours delay, 316 passengers

• PK-761 (Karachi–Jeddah) – 12 hour delay, 160 passengers

• PK-300 (Karachi–Islamabad) – 4 hours delay, 139 passengers

• PK-741 (Islamabad–Medina) – 6 hours delay, 305 passengers

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• PK-233 (Islamabad–Dubai) – 9 hours delay, 162 passengers

• PK-245 (Islamabad–Dammam) – 7 hours delay, 180 passengers

• PK-755 (Skardu–Riyadh) – 7 hours delay, 142 passengers

Five flights were canceled following load adjustments, with alternative arrangements available for affected passengers.

PIA confirmed that flight operations are being fully restored and passenger convenience remains a top priority. The airline emphasized the importance of skilled technical staff, availability of essential spare parts and effective fleet planning and scheduling to support smooth operations and minimize future disruptions.