PIA may be banned from many intl' airports over payment issues

Pakistan's cash-strapped national carrier PIA has landed in fresh trouble with the airline facing ban at several key international airports including Paris and Jeddah, over payment rows.
The Paris Airport Authority has asked the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to pay 40,000 euros for violating curfew hours (between 12 midnight to 6 am at the airport) last September by one of its flights from Lahore to Paris.
On the other hand, the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia has also warned the PIA to pay its outstanding 5.5 million Saudi Arabian Riyal (SAR) in connection with Air Navigation invoice or face serious consequences.

In a letter to the PIA management, the Saudi aviation has stressed the need for early settlement of the dues.
In case of non-payment, it says, it may take serious action against PIA, including suspension of the airline's operation in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi aviation authority had penalised PIA over frequent flight delays and cancellations during last Haj season A fine was imposed after PIA failed to fulfil its commitment to streamline its operations.

The Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication has also written a letter to the PIA demanding it pay 71,000 dinars fine for its delayed flight operation and overflying charges.

"In case of non-payment the Bahrain government may stop PIA from overflying," the letter warns.
PIA spokesman Aamir Memon told PTI the PIA flight from Lahore to Paris got delayed because of a technical issue.
"The PIA flight had to land and take off during the curfew hours at the Paris airport because of this reason," he said, adding the PIA would clear the remaining outstanding amount (SAR 5.5 million) in connection with air navigation to the Saudi aviation by next week.
He said the PIA faced problems during the last Haj operation because of shortage of fleet.
He said it would also settle the issue of payment with Bahrain ministry.

Pakistan's national carrier is often embroiled into controversies, scandals and allegations of mismanagement, corruption and inefficiency.
Last year, the carrier sacked 350 employees, including pilots and air hostesses, for having faked their educational qualifications.
Earlier, Iranian authorities had refused to fuel the aircraft of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to Tehran to make the state-run PIA clear its dues amounting to over USD 5000.
Also, in September last year, the entire crew of a PIA flight from London to Lahore was detained by customs officials for six hours for allegedly smuggling 24 iPhones worth about Rs 2.5 million and also foreign currency.