Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has had its fuel supply resumed at Lahore airport after it was halted by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) due to non-payment of dues.
Stability in fuel supply has been restored after PIA paid PKR480,000,000 (USD1.71m) to PSO. The airline’s fuel bill for the first half of 2023 was PKR48.34 billion (USD172.5m), contributing to a half-yearly loss of PKR27.45 billion (USD98m).
Pakistani government officials and representatives from PIA hbve flown to Malaysia in an attempt to resolve a long-standing dispute with a lessor. Two A320-200 aircraft leased by PIA have been grounded in Jakarta since September 2021, causing financial strain on the airline.
PIA has refuted claims that its flights to and from Toronto Pearson Airport are at risk of disruption due to unpaid bills. The carrier owed USD208,000 to ground handler Swissport and USD250,000 to fuel supplier Menzies Aviation, but they have stated that the invoices have been paid and any delays were due to time differences.
