• Passengers complained they were not provided food or any sort of accommodation in Malaysia
• The passengers claimed that they slept on the floor of the Kuala Lumpur Airport for two days

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RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan Saturday said Pakistan International Airline (PIA)...

• He said he would face the trial and vowed to expose those corrupt leaders who caused huge financial loss to the national exchequer.

• PIA had acquired the plane on expensive lease during PML-N tenure, he added.

• "Our High Commission in Malaysia is in close contact with the relevant Malaysian authorities and Pakistan International Airlines to address the issue at the earliest," FO said.
• The plane was held back by a local court in Malaysia as part of a legal dispute between the airline and another party.

• The national carrier said, “It is an unacceptable situation and PIA has engaged the support from Government of Pakistan to take up this matter using diplomatic channels.”
• The PIA plane was seized on the orders of a local Malaysian court over the non-payment of aircraft lease dues.

• Confirming the ban by China, PIA spokesman Abdullah Khan said that the report of the COVID-19 test conducted 72 hours ago by passengers traveling from Pakistan to China was negative.

• Saima Aslam said that they were making efforts for the resolution of all problems on priority basis.

• PIA added that the company is in the process of improving and restructuring the airline to make it a profitable venture despite severe constraints particularly COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted PIA as well as the airline industry.

• The Air Commodore retired from the Pakistan Air Force on December 31 at the end of his term.
• PIA flight PK-8303 had crashed in a residential area near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi a few moments before landing.

• Saudi official says those intending to fly to Saudi Arabia should ensure their corona PCR test conducted only at facilities approved by the Saudi government
• The move comes after the Kingdom removed COVID-19 ban and resumed road and air traffic

• The Kamran Anjum-led team will also devise a mechanism to prevent from illegal hiring of daily wage staff in the future.
• They have already been granted special authority by the management to contact concerned departmental management to seek related documents.

• PIA will increase the number of domestic flights as part of its winter special offer for domestic flights.

• Sarwar said that PIA was adding eight new aircraft to its fleet.

• The prime minister expressed these views while presiding over a high-level meeting here regarding the PIA.

• The employees seeking departure under the scheme would be paid his or her dues on January 31, 2021.
• Employees under the age of 58 are eligible to avail the separation scheme.

• PIA announced that it will be shifting its headquarters from Karachi to Islamabad in June 2021 as part of its restructuring plan.

• As per announcement the decision based on Oman's Supreme Committee for dealing with COVID-19, all international flights for passengers travelling to and from the Sultanate of Oman will remain temporarily suspended from Dec. 22 to Dec. 29.

• He said that these flights would remain canceled till Saudi Arabia opens their airspace for international flights.

• At present, PIA has a fleet of 29 aircraft with 14,500 employees and the airline is bearing Rs 2.6 billion monthly human resource and Rs 24.8 billion annual expenses.

• Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) suspended all international flights for one week
• Pakistan International Airlines also announced the cancellation of flights to and from Saudi Arabia

• Britain’s Virgin Atlantic began flying from Manchester to Islamabad earlier this month, and will be complementing this with another two services from London Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore.
• It is the second UK airlines to operate in Pakistan after the British Airways.

• In this regard, a number of schemes are being started by incumbent provincial government in the province so that all district of Baluchistan could make progress, he added.

• The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced that it will begin flight operations to and from Abha to facilitate Pakistanis living there.

• Employees under the age of 58 are eligible to avail the separation scheme.
• The employees seeking departure under the scheme would be paid his or her dues on January 31, 2021.

In June, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had banned the national flag carrier from flying to European locations over safety concerns. The EASA took the initiative days after PIA grounded several pilots over "dubious qualifications licenses" and in view of the PIA Airbus crash incident on May 22.

• PIA will be adding 8 new narrow-body aircraft to its fleet on dry lease.
• The national aircraft carrier has also signed an agreement with Oriental Sky Aviation Ltd to send daily direct cargo flights to China.

• The purpose of these fares was to facilitate travel of people to their homes and loved ones during these holidays at a much more affordable price.