PIA to suffer losses of Rs33b amid flight ban over pilots issue

KARACHI : Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered losses of billions of rupees due to suspension of its flight operations to Europe, United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) over pilots scandal.   The decision to suspend flight operations of the national flag carrier by the United States, the UK and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) came after it emerged that over 200 pilots in the country posses dubious licenses. According to details, the PIA could suffer losses of Rs 33 billion after the EASA has suspended the PIA flights for six months. PIA operated 23 flights to the UK in a week before the ban which included 10 flights to London, nine to Manchester and four to Birmingham. The national flag carrier operated six flights to Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Copan Hagen in Europe. The national flag carrier would also suffer losses of upto Rs 12 billion in terms of Hajj operations this year after the Saudi authorities decided to hold the annual pilgrimage on a limited scale.