First three months of 2023, PIA loses Rs38 billion

KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) lost Rs. 38 billion in the first quarter of this year, which is an increase of 171% over the same period last year.
The financial figures of the national airline for the first three months of 2023 have been made public. According to the PIA’s financial report, the national carrier’s loss during the first three months of this year was 171% greater than it was during the same period in 2022.
This loss is estimated to be about 38 billion rupees. Only Rs61 billion was made by the national airline in the first three months of the current year.
The PIA lost Rs21 billion as a result of the dollar’s strengthening versus the rupee. In addition to this, the national carrier suffered losses due to rising interest rates and oil costs.
Additionally, due to carelessness in its administrative affairs, the PIA’s operational costs rose by Rs15 billion to Rs43 billion. Millions of rupees were lost by the national flag carrier as a result of bird attacks; just 29 bird hits at domestic airports were reported in the previous five months.
10 bird strikes have reportedly been documented so far in May of this year alone, according to PIA officials. Most of the events took place at the airports in Karachi and Lahore. Seven planes suffered damage as a result of these strikes. A bird quickly struck Flight PK-310, an Airbus-320 travelling from Karachi to Quetta, a few days ago. Following the bird strike, the plane’s pilot phoned the control tower to request authorization to make a second landing.
Later, as the passengers were being transported to the lounge, the aircraft was moved to the hangar. Six of the plane’s engine’s blades were discovered to be damaged after an inspection. At the airports of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit, and Multan, ten incidents were recorded in only May. The majority of the bird strike incidents—16 in total—were recorded at the airports in Karachi and Lahore.
In Bahrain and Jeddah during the preceding five months, birds also struck PIA aircraft. Bird attacks caused damage to seven aeroplanes, although in 22 of these instances, the plane sustained no damage.