Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled many  flights as the pay and rest time dispute with its pilots continued.

The go-slow policy of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (PALPA) continued for the ninth day on Sunday, as 13 captains and first officers refused to operate scheduled flights, incurring an estimated loss of over Rs 1 billion to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), a PIA spokesman told Daily Times.

He said the management’s pilots, including the PIA managing director, had been operating flights in the absence of regular pilots, adding that the “illegal go-slow and refusal” policy of PALPA had affected 15 flights.

“Five domestic and international flights had to be cancelled due to the non-availability of pilots,” he added.

The PIA spokesman said the management had repeatedly requested PALPA for dialogue during the last two weeks, but “PALPA refused on the pretext that the go-slow policy had now gained momentum and the talks with the management will break that tempo”.

He said a total of 62 flights were delayed and 11 flights cancelled during the last nine days.

“So far, the airline has suffered an estimated loss of over Rs 1 billion. The passengers have also suffered due to these delays and cancellations,” the spokesman said.

However, a PALPA spokesperson told Daily Times that pilots were ready to talk to the PIA administration and even willing to provide some “leverage” to the management.

He said the PIA administration had never invited them for dialogue.