PIA flight delays and cancellations hit Britain-Pakistan tourism

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan has expressed concern over extraordinary delays and frequent cancellations of PIA flights to the region, especially during the peak tourist season.

In a letter sent to Federal Minister for Aviation Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday, the GB CM slammed PIA for its irregular flight schedule to Gilgit and Skardu airports, terming it irresponsible and demanding that the minister ensure regular flights to both airports.

“These cancellations have not only caused significant inconvenience to residents and visitors to the region, but have also seriously affected the ability of the Gilgit-Baltistan government to meet its commitments at the federal level,” he lamented.

He said air travel is the main mode of transportation used by officials and representatives of the British government to attend meetings, conferences and other crucial engagements in Islamabad and other parts of Pakistan.

In recent months, he added, there has been a notable increase in the frequency of cancellations, delays and unreliable schedules of PIA flights.

“This has had a profound impact on travelers, both domestic and international, causing inconvenience, financial losses and increased anxiety among passengers,” CM Khan said.

The Chief Minister further pointed out that lack of notice regarding these cancellations compounds the problem, leaving passengers with little time to make alternative travel arrangements. This has led to missed opportunities, delayed projects and a significant erosion of confidence in PIA’s reliability as the national airline.

CM Khan asked the federal government and the Aviation Minister to resolve this issue quickly.

Published in Dawn, June 23, 2024