PIA operated 1, 118 near-empty flights, audit reveals massive mismanagement

ISLAMABAD: A major revelation has come to light on the management of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to a report by the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), between 2021 and 2023, PIA operated 1,118 flights from Islamabad with only one or two passengers on board.

The audit report said that 816 flights had only one passenger while 302 flights had only two passengers. These figures were obtained from PIA’s own records, which were provided by the management.

The audit report said that operating these flights instead of canceling and refunding passengers was the result of administrative mismanagement and poor planning. This illogical decision caused huge losses to the national airline.

The report further revealed that several flights were operated with three to fifty passengers, for which no justification could be given. The revenue generated from these flights was very low compared to fuel, staff and other expenses.

The national airline is already burdened with billions of rupees in losses and liabilities, while the government has completed preparations for its privatization. According to the Ministry of Defense, the closure of Pakistan’s airspace from April 24, 2025 to June 30, 2025 also caused a loss of Rs4.1 billion for PIA.

On the other hand, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan called the matter a “humorous audit para” but refrained from giving a detailed explanation.

It may be recalled that the Privatization Commission had told the Senate committee that the new buyer would have to invest Rs70 billion in the national airline over the next five years.