Flying Coffin-A term famously associated with Indian Migs is slowly but surely adopted by our National carrier which has lost credibility. I can safely say that PIA is an appalling airline with a dreadful reputation.
We always seem to hear horror stories from people who have flown with PIA. From delays of up to 48 hours, to rude and inconsiderate cabin crew, to incompetent ground staff and the loss of luggage, and from drug smuggling to fatal crashes, it seems that this awful reputation of PIA is wholly deserved.
It is reported that many of PIA’s aircraft are poorly maintained and even when they are damaged in small collisions, there is an element of neglect in that executives do not want to waste money by taking the planes out of service to repair. The aircraft then continue in service and the passengers on board have no idea of its shabby state.
PIA is highly politicized and bureaucratic interference in the management affairs is too evident. The CEO of the airline is invariably nominated by the government in power which is always a political choice rather than merited appointment. In such case what can one expect in terms of performance?
The PIA Unions/Associations (presently 5 in number – for different categories of employees) are strong, have had the backing of the government in power and operate as parallel management. They act as a stumbling block in the airline’s improvement effort. Frequent changes in top management, to accommodate favourites, have been occurring in the organization. This leads to inconsistency in policy, lack of ownership, shifting of responsibility and start of blame game.
With the present dilapidated condition of the organization, there is no possibility of a turnaround by the management on its own without large government bailout package/financial assistance unless radical but painful measures are implemented. The present situation requires a deep surgery which seems unlikely with incompetent PTI government at the helms of affairs.
PIA is struggling under debt and losses, it’s hard for them to maintain air worthiness of all their fleet under such constraints. It has emerged on the national radar sevetal times and the dismal safety record of the Pakistani airlines is an open secret. A comparative study of airline safety revealed that PIA has consistently underperformed on airline safety, and it is one of the world’s most disaster-prone airlines.
Corruption is so deeply embedded in our country that the most important industries like aviation are also compromised, which is considered the backbone of any economy. This satanic apathy goes on to ignore even the safety of human lives. After helping to establish the likes of Emirates Airline, PIA took a nose dive into oblivion on international level, much like the country itself. PIA Air Craft Crashes in Residential Area in Karachi
PIA is a reflection of rampant corruption, successive ineffective government policies and of course greed that results in such tragic events. Now, after yet another tragic loss of PK8303, It is important not to let the unbridled patriotism cloud our judgement, especially if it involves having our children boarding the same planes whose safety record is not at par with other airlines in the region.
What we need is merit in professionalism. Sincerity and commitment. There must be no compromise for sloppiness- lack of oversight and poor management.
