OMgg y do they have to do all this now?? lol My mom's flight is tomarrowww!!
ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of people were stranded at airports across the country today as state-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled almost all domestic and international flights following a strike by engineers seeking a salary hike.
Dozens of flights were affected in major cities, including the capital and the port city of Karachi.
The Civil Aviation Authority's airport manager in Karachi, Syed Aamir, said the strike by members of the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan had disrupted PIA flights.
PIA, which has clocked up losses of over Rs 3,500 crore, arranged aircraft from private airlines to carry passengers from Karachi to Islamabad.
PIA flights to international destinations including London, Manchester, Dubai, were cancelled.
The engineers had been protesting for five days and they went on "sick leave" today to press their demands, which includes a 55 per cent hike in pay. They said their claim had been accepted earlier but was rescinded by the current administration.
PIA General Manager Nasir Jamal said that the engineers had presented their demands to the management.
Angry passengers protested at Islamabad international airport by occupying its announcement box and breaking its windows. They also besieged the offices of station mangers and airport security officials and demanded that they be put up in hotels at PIA's expense. The airline had to accept their demand.
Jamal said that PIA's management is "seriously" reviewing the demands of the engineers but noted that the airline has suffered considerable losses.
PIA also advised passengers to check the status of their flights before going to the airport.
Sources in the airlines said that it has requested the Ministry of Defence to bail out the national flag carrier from the crisis and send PAF's engineers.
A source said if the situation worsens some of the retired engineers may also be deployed on emergency basis.
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