A Problem-Plagued Airline in a Problem-Plagued Country

"On its scheduled return to Islamabad, the steward did not show up in Toronto."

"The flight of the national flag carrier had to return to Islamabad without the crew member."

"Another PIA [Pakistan International Airlines] crew member vanishes in Canada."

Simple Flying, aviation news site report

 

"A legacy of resilience: PIA's history as a national institution is the key to its future."

"The reason for this [disappearance of flight crew members] is [the] overly liberal asylum and asylum program by the Canadian government."

"We normally terminate the services of such individuals and penalize them by denying them of any benefits."

Abdullah H. Khan, PIA spokesperson

 

Flight attendants from Pakistan International Airways have for years conducted themselves as their profession demands and in line with the airline's expectations on hiring them; taking care of passengers on flights from Lahore or Islamabad to Toronto. Somehow, mysteriously, they seem to disappear into the ether, failing to return to Pakistan on the returning flight. They deplane at Pearson, and from there are not heard from again. 

Aviation news site Simple Flying in the latest such incident reported that a flight attendant whose name is Ayaz arrived from Lahore on flight PK-784, but failed to report back and return when the plane flew back to Pakistan. Pakistan-based Ary News reported on November 13 that two flight attendants "slipped away" following their arrival on flight PK-772 from Islamabad to Toronto. On that occasion, crew members named Khalid and Fida failed to show up for their return flight as scheduled.

Over the past two  years, at least eight missing crews have puzzled the airline. A predictable pattern has emerged where the crew member exits the plane with colleagues, failing to show up for the return flight. A PIA spokesperson confirms the incident, notifies police and immigration officials, and contacted authorities claim to be investigating the incidents.

An earlier, April 2019 report made note of a crew member named Shazia vanishing following a Lahore-to-Paris flight, so this is not a problem unique to Toronto. Sources claimed she had left a resignation letter in her hotel room, a rumour denied by the airline. Stricter measures were announced by the airline last month to keep track of its employees on flights to Canada and Europe.

Among those measures is an age limit for flight attendants on such routes, requiring they be 50 years of age or older. More frequent check-ins are to be required and improved communications from staff members during periods of layover. 

 

In August, Pakistan International Airlines was reportedly unable to pay its employees and was forced to ground several aircraft, cutting some routes, as a result of unpaid bills; the same month that employees announced a two hour "token strike" over privatization plans and disappointment over salary raises that failed to materialize.

A crash in 2020 killed all but two passengers and crew aboard one of its Airbus A320 craft, along with one person on the ground and several others injured. The Airlines is awaiting a buy-out and a new owner in the hopes it can be guided to profitability once again.

A Pakistan International Airlines flight prepares to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport. At least eight PIA crew members have disappeared during layovers in Toronto in the last two years. Photo by Peter J. Thompson /National Post