Pakistan airline strike grounds hundreds of UAE expats

Pakistanis living in this country say they have either had to buy tickets with more expensive airlines or alter their travel plans.

Employees of Pakistan International Airlines protest outside Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Islamabad on Friday. Aamir Qureshi / AFP

ABU DHABI // Pakistani expatriates have been plunged into travel chaos following the industrial action taken by their national carrier in their home country.

Pakistan International Airlines (Pia) staff have been on strike for eight days over plans to privatise the company, leading to most flights to and from the UAE being cancelled.

Pakistanis in the UAE say they have either had to buy tickets on more expensive airlines or alter their travel plans.

Waleed Riaz, an Abu Dhabi travel agent, said more than 100 customers a day were facing problem due to the flight cancellations.

“Those who are labourers are in deep mess. Their annual holidays have started and they are wasting their precious holidays at the airport.”

Ticket prices have also increased, he said.

“For example, if they earlier bought a Pia return ticket from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar for Dh900, now they have to pay Dh1,100 for one way only if they opting for another airline, and that’s if they are fortunate to get seats. “

Mr Waleed said that Pia was not helping its passengers in providing alternative flights free of charge.

“Only Etihad is providing free seats, because both airlines code share,” he said, adding that many of the UAE carriers’ planes were full. “For the rest, one has to pay a hell of a lot of money if they find the seats.”

Abu Dhabi resident Zia Ur Rehman, 26, was supposed to be fly to Islamabad last Wednesday for a work meeting.

“Because of the flight cancellation I have had to spend extra money to take another private carrier from RAK to reach Islamabad,” said the accountant.

“There is no reason why a national flag carrier with large expatriate populations should be in this condition, unless there was something fundamentally wrong in the country’s policies.”

Naqeeb Ullah was hoping to fly home last week to Peshawar for his first holiday in three years.

“This was my first holiday after I left home to work as a heavy-vehicle driver in Mussaffah,” said the 25-year-old.

“Pia has ruined all my plans. I have to buy another ticket to catch the flight from RAK. It so annoying that my own country’s airline is creating so much trouble for its own people.”

Syed Ishaq Hussain, regional manager for Pia in Dubai, said the industrial action was nearing an end.

“Things are slowly coming back to normal [as flights PK4232 is coming to Abu Dhabi today and PK4231 and 606 has gone to Islamabad airport from Abu Dhabi today]. Hopefully in the next few days things would move to normal operations.”

He insisted that Pia would try to arrange other flights for its customers.

“All the costs are being borne by Pia while providing an alternative to its customers. If any agent is charging then he is putting all the money into his pocket.”

He said if an agent was asking money for a new ticket, then the customer should go directly to a Pia office directly to get a free ticket.