PIA Flights Cancelled as Engineers’ Strike Grounds Operations

Islamabad, November 4, 2025: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been forced to cancel multiple flights after an unannounced strike by aircraft engineers brought operations to a halt late Monday night. The sudden walkout has led to the cancellation of at least eight international and numerous domestic flights, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded across major airports.

The disruption began when aircraft engineers refused to issue mandatory safety clearances for scheduled flights, grounding several aircraft at Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi airports. Many passengers were seen waiting for hours with little clarity on flight rescheduling.

In a statement, PIA officials confirmed that the airline has reached out to other carriers to borrow certified aircraft engineers to help resume operations temporarily. “The strike has caused massive losses to the airline, and we are working on restoring flights at the earliest,” said Hafeez Khan, a senior PIA official.

Khan added that both PIA and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) plan to take strong disciplinary action against engineers involved in the strike. “They have violated the essential services act and disrupted national operations. Such behavior cannot be tolerated,” he said.

However, the Society of Airline Engineers Association defended its actions, stating the strike would continue until PIA and CAA improved their treatment and working conditions toward aircraft engineers. “This is not about disruption but about dignity and fair conduct,” a spokesperson said.

The PIA management countered that the engineers’ union had no legal standing and had initiated the strike without prior notice, calling the move “illegal and irresponsible.” Officials claim the strike is an attempt to pressure authorities amid the government’s ongoing efforts to privatize PIA — a plan that has faced stiff opposition from employee unions.

The strike has come at a difficult time for Pakistan’s struggling aviation sector, which is already facing heavy losses, operational challenges, and international scrutiny.

As efforts continue to negotiate with the engineers and bring operations back to normal, passengers have been advised to check flight statuses before arriving at airports.