The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has expressed serious concern over the sudden cancellation of flights by local airlines without refunds, causing severe mental and financial distress to passengers, a practice contrary to international laws.
FPCCI Vice President Aman Paracha highlighted today that both public and private airlines are canceling flights without notice, leaving passengers stranded and financially burdened. He pointed out that airlines are allegedly refusing to issue refunds for these cancellations, citing a no-refund policy.
The business community has been particularly affected, with Paracha mentioning complaints of significant commercial losses due to missed meetings and engagements in other cities. These disruptions have also impacted international passengers, who have faced extreme hardship upon discovering the cancellation of their domestic connecting flights upon arrival in Pakistan.
Paracha identified several factors contributing to this chaotic situation, including unresolved issues within the national airline, such as the recent dispute between its management and aircraft engineers. Compounding these operational problems is severe fog, which is causing further extensive delays, severely disrupting air traffic and forcing passengers to wait for many hours.
The FPCCI Vice President condemned the arbitrary fare collection, accusing airlines of exploiting passengers’ helplessness by increasing ticket prices at will. He urged the national airline and private airlines to freeze domestic fares to prevent further financial pressure on the public.
In response to this crisis, Paracha called for immediate intervention from the standing committees of the National Assembly and the Senate to address the fare hikes. He also demanded that the Civil Aviation Authority conduct a thorough review of the airlines’ poor performance and that the leadership of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) establish a clear system to provide reliable information and support to passengers.
On a separate note, Paracha welcomed the move to install e-gates at Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore airports. He stated that this modern facility, common in other countries, will save passengers considerable time during the immigration process.