PIA on verge of shutdown as 537 flights cancelled in 11 days

In a dire turn of events, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is teetering on the brink of a shutdown, having canceled more than 500 flights over the past 11 days due to the unavailability of fuel. This unprecedented crisis has been spurred by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) cutting its fuel supply to the airline over unpaid dues. As of October 13, PIA had been forced to cancel 537 flights, marking the airline’s most challenging period in its history.

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The situation reached a breaking point when, on a Thursday, PIA had to cancel a staggering 49 domestic and international flights from major cities across Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Multan, and Peshawar. The abrupt disruption in fuel supply from the Pakistan State Oil had a ripple effect, causing flights like Karachi to Islamabad and Karachi to Turbat to be grounded, leaving passengers stranded and schedules in chaos.