PIA employees end strike; Turkish Airlines codeshare off

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed international operations on 12-Feb-2011 following a four-day strike last week which has resulted in a loss of more than PKR2 billion (USD24 million) for the carrier and the cancellation of 500 services (APP/Saudi Gazette/The Nation/Reuters/AP/AFP, 12-Feb-2011). The strike was ended on 11-Feb-2011 after the Pakistan Government accepted the demands of the Pakistan Airline Pilots' Association (PALPA). As part of this, the government announced plans to remove MD Aijaz Haroon, halt plans for codeshare services with Turkish Airlines and reinstate sacked employees. A new MD will be appointed "soon" according to the nation's Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar. The carrier operated 45 domestic and 35 international services, handling 15,000 passengers, on 12-Feb-2011, with spokesman Mashood Tajwar stating its top priority is to clear a backlog of 50,000 passengers. Mr Tajwar confirmed the Turkish Airlines' codeshare agreement is no longer on the table stating that "no such agreement will be signed in the future". The carrier reported losses of PRK11.7 billion (USD138 million) in the nine months to 30-Sep-2010.