Tag: Flight delays

  • Why have PIA flights to UAE been suspended?

    Why have PIA flights to UAE been suspended?

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has issued travel guidelines for passengers planning to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as air operations to Dubai and Sharjah have been severely affected by heavy rains.

    In response to the adverse weather conditions in the UAE, a PIA spokesperson told Samaa News that air operations of various airlines, including PIA, will remain suspended until further notice. Some flights of the national airline are experiencing delays and cancellations due to the inclement weather, he added.
    Passengers booked on affected flights are advised to contact the PIA call centre for updates and information regarding their travel arrangements. PIA remains dedicated to providing timely assistance and support to its passengers during this challenging period, the spokesman said.

    Two-day holiday in Dubai

    In view of the forecast of rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the United Arab Emirates, Thursday and Friday have been declared holidays in the educational institutions of Dubai.

  • PIA’s Boeing 777 planes encounter more technical issues due to lack of maintenance 

    PIA’s Boeing 777 planes encounter more technical issues due to lack of maintenance 

    Due to a serious lack of maintenance and repair work, numerous Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s national flag carrier, have experienced technical problems during international flights, according to reliable sources. 

    These technical issues within PIA’s aircraft have been steadily increasing due to the neglect of essential maintenance and repair tasks by the airline’s engineering department, as disclosed by insiders interviewed by ARY News. This unfortunate trend not only puts the safety of PIA flights at risk but also causes significant inconveniences for passengers and financial difficulties for the airline. 

    Sources have revealed that several Boeing 777 aircraft faced technical problems during flights to Saudi Arabia, resulting in substantial expenses for their repair and upkeep. In a recent incident, during the boarding process for Jeddah-Lahore flight PK-760, the auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust malfunctioned, requiring the pilot to activate an emergency brake and initiate a fire control procedure. 

    The consequences of this incident were significant, leading to a delay of over a day for the affected flight as the aircraft had to be grounded due to the fault. Interestingly, this was the second such incident reported in a single day. Prior to this incident, another PIA plane flying from Sialkot to Jeddah experienced smog warnings within the cockpit. 

    In response to these events, the PIA spokesperson issued a statement reassuring passengers aboard the grounded plane that arrangements were being made for their prompt departure from Lahore to Jeddah. 

  • PIA faces flight cancellations and delays as financial crisis intensifies

    PIA faces flight cancellations and delays as financial crisis intensifies

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), currently grappling with severe financial challenges, has been compelled to cancel multiple domestic and international flights.

    An authoritative representative of the national flag carrier conveyed to Geo News that there’s a looming risk of suspending flight operations by September 15, today, unless urgent financial support is extended.

    This predicament initially materialised on August 12, when numerous domestic flights, both departing from and arriving in Karachi, had to be abruptly canceled. This unfortunate situation was attributed to a combination of financial constraints and the inability to settle outstanding dues owed to Pakistan State Oil (PSO) for fuel supply.

    An examination of today’s schedule at Jinnah International Airport reveals a series of disruptions in PIA’s services. Notably, flights from Karachi to Bahawalpur (PK588 and PK589) and Karachi to Lahore (PK302 and PK303) have been canceled.

    Furthermore, the Karachi to Islamabad flight (PK368) faces a three-hour delay, while the Karachi to Lahore flight (PK304) encounters an extensive delay of eight and a half hours.

    Additional disruptions include the cancellation of PIA flights between Karachi and Rahim Yar Khan (PK582 and PK583), along with delays for Karachi to Multan (PK330) and Dubai (PK213), both postponed by two hours.

    Moreover, the Islamabad to Karachi flight (PK301) has been cancelled; Islamabad to Riyadh (PK753) is running three hours behind schedule; and Lahore to Karachi (PK305) faces a delay of two and a half hours.

    PIA’s financial struggles have been escalating, with the airline revealing on September 7 that it had grounded five of its 13 leased aircraft, potentially grounding an additional four due to the ongoing financial strain. 

    A plea for an urgent bailout of Rs22.9 billion was met with rejection by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). The ECC also declined the request to defer payments, including Rs1.3 billion per month to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for Federal Excise Duty (FED) and Rs0.7 billion per month to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for embarking charges.

    Adding to the airline’s woes, PIA cautioned of possible suspensions in the supply of spare parts by Boeing and Airbus come mid-September. In the previous month, the Federal Board of Revenue of Pakistan (FBR) took the drastic step of freezing 13 PIA bank accounts due to non-payment of Rs8 billion in FED.

  • Heatwave woes: Rising temperatures pose new threats to air travel

    Heatwave woes: Rising temperatures pose new threats to air travel

    In a twist of fate, climate change is exacerbating the challenges of air travel, creating a new layer of misery for passengers and airlines alike. As temperatures soar due to global warming, the very air that planes need to lift off becomes less cooperative.

    When the mercury climbs, hot air’s reduced density causes planes to struggle for lift, complicating takeoffs and in-flight stability. Airlines often resort to delaying flights or unloading cargo and passengers to mitigate the issue, leading to a cascade of disruptions across the aviation system. Stranded on runways, passengers endure stifling conditions within grounded aircraft.

    Experts warn that this problem is set to intensify as the planet heats up further and the frequent occurrence of extreme heat becomes the norm. A Columbia University study projected that by mid-century, up to 30 per cent of all US flights could be subject to weight restrictions during periods of high heat.

    Regrettably, there’s no silver bullet to overcome this challenge. Ethan Coffel, an assistant professor at Syracuse University, explains that it’s a physical limitation tied to air density, leaving limited room for technological solutions.

    Heat-related delays are emerging as a more substantial issue than snow or ice. Last summer, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport faced twice the number of weather-related delays compared to the previous winter. The impact is especially pronounced at airports with shorter runways, like New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which struggles to handle the volume of traffic it receives.

    Airports in high-altitude regions and warm climates are hit particularly hard by this heat-induced predicament. Denver and the Sun Belt cities face additional hurdles, with workers on scorching runways at risk due to the “heat island” effect. Despite efforts to make aircraft lighter and more efficient, progress is incremental, leaving airports to rely on conventional solutions like rescheduling flights and strengthening runways.

    The compounding effects of climate change on air travel are undeniable. Turbulence grows riskier, flights lengthen due to shifting wind patterns, and extreme weather spawns more delays. To truly address this issue, a holistic approach is required, including a concerted effort to reduce fossil fuel emissions, a primary driver of climate change. Amidst these challenges, the future of air travel remains uncertain, prompting travellers to brace for increasingly tumultuous skies.

  • PSL 6 faces flight delays, logistical problems

    PSL 6 faces flight delays, logistical problems

    Sixth edition of Pakistan Super League is facing flight delays and logistical problems are being discussed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the franchise owners.

    PSL contingent of 233 participants including players, support staff, broadcasting crew and PCB officials are still in Lahore and Karachi hotels after another delay in flight. The flight to Abu Dhabi has been delayed thrice in the last 36 hours which is brewing confusion, however, PCB has informed in the latest update that flights from Karachi and Lahore will leave at 5 pm today.

    The 25 PSL participants in Lahore and Karachi hotels haven’t got their visas and are still inside the bio-secure bubble.

    Read more – Wasim Akram is losing his mind as he quarantines for PSL6

    There was an urgent meeting called earlier today between PCB and franchises owners. In the online meeting, the franchise stakeholders were informed about the delay of South Africa and India’s technical staff chartered flights and PCB reiterated its resolve to solve all impending issues, taking all concerned into confidence. The backup plan of moving matches to Sharjah was also reportedly brought up in the meeting.

    In a statement issued after the meeting, the PCB said the franchises were updated on the unanticipated delays in the grant of landing permissions for chartered flights from India and South Africa.

    “The PCB is exploring all possible solutions to overcome these hurdles,” the statement read, adding that flights from Karachi and Lahore will depart today as per schedule.

    Reportedly, the broadcast crew from India and South Africa was not given permission to land in Abu Dhabi and now the PCB will make alternative arrangements and officials from those countries which are not on the red list will be engaged for the league.

    “The visas of at least  four individuals are still awaited and they will depart for Abu Dhabi later.”

    The statement added that holding the remaining 20 PSL matches was proving difficult under the current circumstances.

    According to a report, another  meeting of the PCB and franchise owners will be held in the evening.

    This is the third time the players and officials’ departure for the UAE has been postponed.

    The flight was previously scheduled to leave for the UAE at 8:00 am on Wednesday, which was later rescheduled to Thursday, 3 pm.

    And now the players and officials present at the hotels in Karachi and Lahore will fly for the UAE at 5pm.

    Former Pakistan cricketer and commentator Ramiz Raja had said that they will leave for the airport at 3pm.

    “Lot of speculations regarding the PSL on TV news channels. Latest on PSL travel is that we are moving out from the hotel at 3pm to go to the airport. So all is good.”

    Meanwhile, players and other staff have checked out from the hotel in Karachi and have departed for the airport.