PIA suffers over Rs21bln loss from extended aircraft grounding

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has incurred a staggering loss of over Rs 21.81 billion, primarily due to prolonged grounding of its aircraft for routine maintenance.

The Auditor General’s report highlights that maintenance procedures for a period of forty-four to forty-two days significantly exceeded the expected duration, causing significant operational and financial problems for the national carrier.

Despite these warnings, the problem persisted, leading to a significant financial burden.

The report highlighted that management did not provide sufficient documentary evidence to justify the extended grounding of the planes or resolve other related financial irregularities.

This latest revelation reinforces existing concerns about PIA’s financial management after previous reports highlighted irregularities of Rs. 38 billion and 40 million crowns.

Management officials attribute the delays and financial burden to ongoing funding constraints and payment problems that are said to be preventing timely repairs and maintenance of the fleet.