As if the pilot scandal was not enough, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) finds itself embroiled in a new ticketing scandal.
PIA Ticketing Scandal: How PIA Ticket Agents Scammed Their Own Airline
As reported by Dawn, Pakistan’s leading English newspaper, a PIA ticket office in Sialkot, a city in Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, took part in a ticketing scheme that defrauded PIA of millions of Pakistani rupees in revenue.
During the pandemic, PIA suspended much of its longhaul service. When repatriation flights resumed, PIA policy strictly forbid old, unused tickets from being used. Instead, passengers had to buy new tickets (a scandal in itself, but not the focus of this story) at double the price of normal tariffs and non-refundable.
Ticket agents and airport staff were instructed not to honor existing tickets. It was a classic supply/demand issue with demand far outstripping supply. But rogue agents in the Sialkot office colluded with ticket agents to re-issue existing tickets to Milan and Paris in exchange for a passenger payout…directly to them.
With the scandal now discovered (we don’t know how), PIA is performing a full investigation. It is estimated that 8 million Rps (about $50,000) was pilfered by PIA employees and that, in turn, deprived PIA of a far larger amount if would have made it tickets were sold at full price.
CONCLUSION
Fake pilot licenses and unscrupulous ticket agents are hardly unique to PIA. But this latest news is like rubbing salt in a wound. For the sake of its tattered reputation, PIA needs a strong leader and government partners who will fundamentally transform the image and reputation of PIA. Whatever is actually true…and I know the truth is often much more complicated than it appears at the surface…the reputation of PIA continues to take a hit and there is simply no reason why this must be.
> Read More on PIA:
- Pakistan International Airlines 777 Business Class Manchester To New York
- Pakistan International Airlines A320 Crashes, Killing 97 Onboard
- Where The Two Survivors Were Sitting When PIA Airbus A320 Crashed
- Another A320 Scare On Pakistan International Airlines
- Report: Careless Pilots Blamed For PIA A320 Crash
- It’s Time To Blacklist Pakistan International Airlines…
- Exclusive: A “Fake” Pilot From Pakistan International Airlines Speaks Out
- European Union Bans Pakistan International Airlines – Is Canada Next?
- Pakistani Pilot Probe Spreads To United Arab Emirates
image: Aero Pixels / Wikimedia Commons
So the airline was screwing over the customers, then the ticket agents saw a chance to screw the customers a little less and get a piece of the pie for themselves.
Now PIA is all pissed because the ticket agents prevented them from taking the full spoils of the racket.
If a company operates unethically, it is inevitable that its employees will do so also. I am sure the Ticket Agents would claim they were acting in a Robin Hood role.
tom – have you ever heard the term “never let a good crisis go to waste”? It’s the approach that BA have used, with them firing thier pilots and crew and all that…
Worse prime minister Nawaz sherif Punjabi corrupt , his government issued all fake licence hire uneducated punjabi fake degrees holder in PIA management, those destroy All country economy. I wish PIA flights suspend not only in Europe but suspend to land any where in the world.
Foolish person Civil Aviation Authority issues commercial pilot licncses not PIA.
U pahtan stongage people are the real pain in the a$$ u people only know how to beg u are begger.
I was in Pakistan, during march they were ripping people of taking advantage, i hope it goes bankrupt and never flies again.
Thats 100% true..
Nope, it’s not a scandal, you have made it looks like one… This by itself scandalous. Passengers have been allowed to use the existing ticket by one odd travel agent… The fact is that travel agent did not benefit from it, only the passengers got their rights but instead of praising the travel agent you have presented him as villain… My dear you have a attitude and perception problem.. Sorry to read.
It’s not the Airline it’s the Ticket Agents who book the Tickets for Passengers provided there is a chance Flight will depart on the Following date and Airlines Flights will Only travel once other Country gives permission and these tickets are changed to other dates with Reference No and Ticket no is Same this is happening with Lot of Airlines as Tickets are Confirmed at first later Country rules for Departure to Countries change and than with Charges other booking is done Why Airline is blamed it’s the Pandemic due to Which Travel restrictions are there
They first confirmed my booking and later cancelled the flight, when I approached the booking agent at Pia main office (First he told me about Islam and hadees in this situation)told me to buy new ticket and I will claim refund in Canada from my booking agency.shameful ,scandal and greedy staff
They have not refunded my ticket, been over a year now…despite numerous reminders/calls etc…it’s shameful! The airline is bankrupt on all fronts…the government should liquidate, and pass the assets to private management, and let it rise from ashes! There is no hope in its present pitiful situation!!!
Have stopped flying it because of safety, poor services etc etc etc
They been charging upto ,£850 for Repatriation flight, when official rate was set as £452. PIA directly encouraging the corrupt practices . I had my first ticket cancelled but after 5 weeks I still have seen my money back . Top to bottom they all need to be lynched no mercy , nobody has right to claim that they did not know what was happening right under their nose. They are group of conniving, scheming hustlers. I have no doubt tjat whole organisation is corrupt, it needs to be either shut down and relaunched with only 10% orignal staff rest should be kicked out with no mercy as they never showed no mercy to innocent customers.
Just because PIA is in the spotlight doesn’t mean any other airline should get away with how they have treated their customers during this covid-19 pandemic. I booked a return flight with Qatar Airways through Lycafly but my return flight had been cancelled. I understand flights were not operating when we was due to return however Lycafly aswel as Qatar Airways have took advantage of the covid-19 situation and asked for more money to book a return flight! Why should I have to pay more money when I already booked a return flight the date could have rescheduled however no they want more money! I was so disappointed but it was PIA who got me back they may have charged customers extra but PIA was the flight that got me out of distress when Qatar Airways and Lycafly couldn’t help so I thank PIA. Apparently I was supposed to get a refund from Lycafly for the return ticket I couldn’t use within 10 weeks however it’s been more than 2 months not got a refund. Imran Khan surely one day people will see that you are only wishing the best for the country and it’s people however it’s a shame that people of your country don’t support you but chose to show a bad reputation. If God wills then everything will be sorted soon.
Lycafly ripped me off too you cant trust them
Its not the fault of sialkot agents only PIA employees are not loyal anymore because of thin salaries and weak managements so they abet agents in every fraud to fill their pockets and offcourse agents too.
All PIA needs is a professional head probably from the aviation industry may be a senior travel agent who understands market activities etc. And minimise union strength. Handing over 49% shares to a private party is also a good decision .
Think salaries for God sake , plz compare their salaries with other Govt departments . This Airline must be closed and a new airline may be launched with people having Good credentials and Good professional
For me I got 100% refund back from PIA within 3 weeks in the light of my personal experience not agreed with author. I dont say everyone is good at this place but not everyone is bad also.
Twice i had to wait over 2 months for refund in 15 months . Fir you a mirecle must have been performed. You are a lucky fellow
Me too victim of PIA fraud during Covid19 pandemic
From the time PIA Crashed in Karachi till now,all is the game of privatisation of PIA.Love your Country rather than few pieces of notes which can lead you to Hell.Once this PIA was the leading and Progressive airlines of the World which stood many other Airlines on its foot and now….Its a Conspiracy to Privatise it
My family was due to return from islamabad to Manchester on 23rd March this year when the very first flight got cancelled due to virus by pia and then had to rebook the pia flight seats for 4 passengers only to pay £125 per passenger £500 in total it is bad airline
It seems the whole country’s economy is based on corruption, greed and unethical practices brought in from previous governments are also lining their own pockets. As usual the righteous and poor and general public are the ones bearing the cost.
Dear friends
Worst happened in UK. PIA staff in London should also be investigated. Guy called feroze and taimoor were also pocketing lots of money.
Please please investigate UK.
Ripping people off brother by selling fix priced ticket at double the price. Repatriation flight tickets were fixed at £452 but 80% people been are charged between £660- 850 . Thos has happened to 40 people who were sitting closeby to me on flight from Heathrow on 5th of june obviously I couldnt ask others. Since departure of Retd Air Marshal Noor Khan this airline has went fron worlds top airline to one of the worst airline . Not a single single CEO after late noor khan is been competant.
I never used PIA for traveling to Pak or KSA as i knew its just like a garbage service Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and other gulf countries the PIA airline and every other agency is corrupt for Gode sake where is the change PTI !
Economic downfall, Costructing Mandir’s handing over Abhi Nandin + Kashmir is your bloody change ??
I was ripped off 1800 to get a flight back to UK with my husband pia should be black list