PIA’s downfall: the department that failed the airline

LAHORE: It didn’t happen overnight; rather, it was the result of consistent negligence and disregard by a particular department that led to the downfall of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), once considered as one of the world’s premier airlines.

At the heart of the national carrier’s downfall is none other than its engineering department, which played a pivotal role in its ongoing financial and management troubles.

Despite spending millions of dollars monthly on leasing charges, the PIA has failed to allocate timely resources to repair 14 grounded aircraft at various airports across Pakistan.

Documents reveal that instead of investing a few million rupees to prevent these planes from becoming non-operational, the engineering department continued to neglected basic maintenance. 

According to the documents, aircraft engines were cooled using air-conditioning vans instead of proper cooling systems, causing cracks and rendering them inoperable. Landing gear and air-conditioning systems for passengers have also been neglected, leading to the grounding of leased planes that cost as much as $300,000 per month in leasing fees. 

Also read: PIA to resume flights to Europe on Jan 10 after over four-year ban

According to documents obtained by “Express News”, the PIA, despite incurring billions in losses, has made no serious efforts to mitigate its financial crisis. Of the airline’s 34 aircraft — including Boeing 777s, Airbus A320s, and ATRs — 14 are grounded. Notably, some of these planes are leased, with exorbitant monthly payments adding to the carrier’s mounting financial woes. 

The engineering department led by its head Ali Amir since 2014, has failed to address recurring issues in a timely manner, often citing PIA’s poor financial health as the reason. Yet, the airline’s worsening state has been directly linked to the grounding of revenue-generating planes. 

Among the grounded aircraft are two Boeing planes out of service since March 2020, another from 2021, two more from 2023, and one from 2024.

The ATR planes, five of which were leased and five purchased, were reportedly ill-suited to Pakistan’s climate, with engines overheating frequently. Improvised cooling methods using air-conditioning vans led to engine cracks, forcing their grounding. 

The Airbus fleet also suffered from poor maintenance, with minor issues escalating due to inaction.

According to the documents, engineers reportedly washed planes in hangars instead of designated washing areas, causing rust and structural damage due to saline water exposure. 

Despite multiple complaints and inquiries, no action has been taken against those responsible. Many implicated employees continue to hold key positions, seemingly waiting for the airline’s privatisation. 

PIA insiders also said that the engineering department has never undergone a comprehensive audit. If audited, they believe, even more alarming revelations would emerge.

Plans to rebrand the engineering department as “Engineering Business Development and Design” to service foreign airlines’ aircraft have yet to bear fruit, as the department struggles to maintain PIA’s own fleet. 

The findings paint a troubling picture of negligence and mismanagement at the PIA, further deepening the crisis of the national flag carrier.