PIA Engineers Deny Strike as Flight Delays Leave Passengers Stranded

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is facing mounting challenges in maintaining its flight schedule, with multiple delays attributed by the airline to what it calls a strike by the Society of Aircraft Engineers of Pakistan (SAEP). However, the SAEP has firmly rejected the claim, stating there is no strike and that engineers are only following mandatory aviation procedures.

A senior SAEP representative told local media that the association and its members are strictly working within the guidelines laid out in the PIA Engineering Manual and Pakistan Civil Aviation Regulations. He said the situation was being wrongly portrayed as a strike, while engineers were simply ensuring that required safety and certification checks were properly completed.

He added that these checks are legally necessary for maintaining airworthiness and protecting passengers, responsibilities that licensed engineers cannot overlook under any circumstances. Instead of addressing long-standing financial and professional concerns, he said the PIA administration was characterising regulatory compliance as operational disruption.

According to him, the SAEP’s position remains unchanged: safety takes priority, and engineers will continue to fulfil their duties in accordance with all technical and regulatory standards.

On Tuesday, three PIA flights bound for Saudi Arabia and one for Dubai departed from Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar after significant delays. The situation caused hundreds of passengers to wait for hours at the airports. Officials said the airline had to use alternative arrangements to keep operations running due to the alleged strike.

A PIA spokesperson said the SAEP had no legal standing and claimed the group’s actions were intended to hinder the airline’s privatisation process, which is nearing completion. Over the past two months, similar delays have affected major airports across the country, largely due to engineers’ demonstrations demanding salary increases and other pending issues.