Archive · 14 Nov 2025
PIA Flight Disruptions Delay Pakistan Athletics Squad's Journey to Games
Imagine your favorite airline, PIA, is having a big fight with the people who fix its planes, the engineers.
Because of this fight, the engineers stopped giving the okay for the planes to fly, causing many flights to be cancelled or delayed.
This happened when Pakistan's sports team, including a famous athlete named Arshad Nadeem, was trying to fly to a big sports event in another country called Riyadh.
Their flight was delayed for over six hours because of these problems.
The airline says the flight problems are for other reasons, but it seems the fight with the engineers is the real cause.
The engineers want more money and better places to work, and they believe the airline isn't taking care of the planes properly.
This argument has been going on for a while and has made it hard for many people to travel.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights are experiencing significant disruptions due to an ongoing dispute between the airline's management and aircraft engineers.
The Pakistan athletics squad, en route to the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, faced a flight delay of over six hours from Lahore.
The dispute involves engineers stopping the issuance of airworthiness certificates, leading to grounded aircraft and flight cancellations.
Engineers are demanding salary increases, timely spare parts, and improved working conditions, while management accuses them of contravening the Essential Services Act.
PIA claims operational reasons for delays, but the conflict with the Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP) is identified as the primary cause.
- Who
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) management and Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP), affecting the Pakistan athletics squad.
- What
- PIA flight disruptions due to an ongoing dispute between airline management and aircraft engineers, causing significant delays.
- When
- Friday, November 14th (in reference to the athletics squad's delay), with the dispute ongoing for weeks and months.
- Where
- Pakistan's airports, specifically impacting flights in and out of the country, and affecting travel from Lahore to Riyadh.
- Why
- The dispute stems from disagreements over pay packages, working conditions, aircraft maintenance, and management decisions, leading engineers to withhold airworthiness certificates.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Management
Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP)
Cause of Flight Disruptions
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Management
Claims cancellations/delays are due to schedule rationalisation, weather conditions, or other operational reasons.
Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP)
States the conflict with PIA management over pay and working conditions is the main cause.
Engineers' Actions
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Management
Alleges engineers are engaging in a delaying tactic, contravening the Essential Services Act by striking or abandoning work.
Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP)
Asserts they are at work but not issuing clearance certificates without astute professional inspection, citing concerns over maintenance and management decisions.
Privatisation Process
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Management
Accuses SAEP of attempting to sabotage the airline's privatisation process by halting aircraft clearances under the pretext of safety concerns.
Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP)
The SAEP's position on the privatisation process is not explicitly stated, but their actions stem from demands for better pay and working conditions.
- Airline
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
- Disruption Cause
- Dispute between PIA management and Society of Aircraft Engineers Pakistan (SAEP)
- Affected Group
- Pakistan athletics squad, including Olympic Gold Medallist Arshad Nadeem
- Delayed Flight Destination
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Event
- Islamic Solidarity Games
- Duration of Delay
- Over six hours
- Engineers' Demands
- Salary increase, timely spare parts, improved working environment