160 UK-bound passengers denied boarding
April 15, 2007
ISLAMABAD: The PIA denied boarding to more than 160 UK-bound passengers, who had confirmed seats, in less than 24 hours from Lahore and Islamabad airports.
More than 100 passengers were refused boarding Friday from Lahore, while 60 passengers could not travel Saturday despite they had reported in time and were carrying Ok tickets.
This created rumpus on both the airports as passengers protested against PIA management.
The situation is stated to be the result of shifting of booking responsibility from sales department to the administration department of the Airlines.
The Central Reservation Centre Karachi (CRC) of the Airlines had overbooked the flights.
The Airlines spokesman has conceded that the situation is the result of overbooking and some travelling agents are also partly responsible for it. The shortage of planes also created difficulties, he insisted.
The sources well aware of the situation told 'The News' Saturday that PIA former chairman Tariq Kirmani withdrew the booking assignment from sales department and gave it to the administration before quitting the charge.
The boarding denial has caused concern among the travellers, who were in Pakistan to celebrate Easter holidays with their families. Some of them have expressed fear of punitive action back at their job places due to non-reporting to their duties on stipulated time.
Senior Federal Minister and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal while taking notice of affected passengers agony has sought immediate report from the Airlines authorities.
He has spoken to the PIA chairman about it, asking him to provide relief to the affected passengers and ensure that same should not recur.
The scheduling, reservations and marketing had throughout been assigned under the SVP Sales but now all the three have been bifurcated and the reservations have been handed over to the Administration.
The PIA spokesman said the change in the responsibility of booking was the result of quitting by Director Commercial. He was hopeful that the situation would be eased up as soon the 747-Jumbo planes would be operated for Europe.
The planes will be ready for flight in the sectors in May-June, he added.
In another incident Chicago bound flight via Karachi could not take-off on schedule Saturday morning because the pilot refused to fly and got off the plane while passengers were on the plane.
The pilot was of the view that five-minute difference of his authorized hours of flying could hamper the flight from Manchester where the plane had to touch for technical landing. The authorities called another pilot, who flew the plane for Chicago en-route to Karachi. The flight had to face the delay of more than three hours in Lahore.
More than 100 passengers were refused boarding Friday from Lahore, while 60 passengers could not travel Saturday despite they had reported in time and were carrying Ok tickets.
This created rumpus on both the airports as passengers protested against PIA management.
The situation is stated to be the result of shifting of booking responsibility from sales department to the administration department of the Airlines.
The Central Reservation Centre Karachi (CRC) of the Airlines had overbooked the flights.
The Airlines spokesman has conceded that the situation is the result of overbooking and some travelling agents are also partly responsible for it. The shortage of planes also created difficulties, he insisted.
The sources well aware of the situation told 'The News' Saturday that PIA former chairman Tariq Kirmani withdrew the booking assignment from sales department and gave it to the administration before quitting the charge.
The boarding denial has caused concern among the travellers, who were in Pakistan to celebrate Easter holidays with their families. Some of them have expressed fear of punitive action back at their job places due to non-reporting to their duties on stipulated time.
Senior Federal Minister and Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal while taking notice of affected passengers agony has sought immediate report from the Airlines authorities.
He has spoken to the PIA chairman about it, asking him to provide relief to the affected passengers and ensure that same should not recur.
The scheduling, reservations and marketing had throughout been assigned under the SVP Sales but now all the three have been bifurcated and the reservations have been handed over to the Administration.
The PIA spokesman said the change in the responsibility of booking was the result of quitting by Director Commercial. He was hopeful that the situation would be eased up as soon the 747-Jumbo planes would be operated for Europe.
The planes will be ready for flight in the sectors in May-June, he added.
In another incident Chicago bound flight via Karachi could not take-off on schedule Saturday morning because the pilot refused to fly and got off the plane while passengers were on the plane.
The pilot was of the view that five-minute difference of his authorized hours of flying could hamper the flight from Manchester where the plane had to touch for technical landing. The authorities called another pilot, who flew the plane for Chicago en-route to Karachi. The flight had to face the delay of more than three hours in Lahore.
