In a challenging turn of events, foreign airlines operating in Pakistan are encountering significant delays in both arrivals and departures. The root cause of this disruption is the financial crisis affecting the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). While PIA has been grappling with a disorganized flight schedule, international airlines are also feeling the pinch. Here’s a closer look at the situation:
Karachi to Riyadh: Saudi Airlines (SV 709)
Passengers traveling from Karachi to Riyadh are facing a delay of up to six hours for Saudi Airlines’ flight SV 709. Originally scheduled for departure at 7:25 PM, the flight will now take off much later due to the altered schedule.
Karachi to Dubai: Flight FZ 234
Similarly, flights from Karachi to Dubai are experiencing delays of approximately two hours. Flight FZ 234, which was supposed to depart at 1:12 PM, will now depart later than anticipated.
Dubai to Lahore and Lahore to Dubai: Emirates Airlines (EK 624 and EK 625)
Emirates Airlines’ flight EK 624 from Dubai to Lahore encountered a significant delay of around four hours, leading to a knock-on effect on its departure from Lahore to Dubai. The revised schedule for EK 625 from Lahore to Dubai now sets its departure at 1:10 PM.
Lahore to Jeddah: PIA Flight PK 759
National airline PIA’s flight PK 759, departing from Lahore to Jeddah, is experiencing a delay of five hours. It is now set to take off at 3:45 PM.
Lahore to Medina: PIA Flight PK 747
Another PIA flight, PK 747, which operates from Lahore to Medina, is also facing delays of five hours. The flight is now rescheduled to depart at midnight.
Faisalabad to Dubai and Lahore to Dubai: FZ 356 and EK 623
In yet another instance, the flight from Faisalabad to Dubai (FZ 356) left with a delay of 1 hour and 19 minutes at 5:54 AM. Meanwhile, the Lahore to Dubai flight operated by Emirates Airlines (EK 623) also experienced a delay of 1 hour.
These delays, which can cause frustration for passengers, are subject to change. Travelers are advised to stay informed by checking with the respective airlines or airport authorities for the latest updates on their flights. The financial crisis impacting PIA has had a ripple effect on the aviation sector in Pakistan, necessitating travelers to stay vigilant about their travel plans.