PIA extends VSS applications deadline till December 29

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has extended the due date for Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) applications by December 29.

According to the details, the CEO of the national flag carrier Air Marshal retired Arshad Malik announced the airline’s permanent employees could submit their applications by next week.

He revealed that by December 22, the last date for submission of applications, only 1300 PIA employees had availed of the VSS package.

The PIA management plans to retire 3,500 employees under the VSS scheme and based on performance, a forced retirement scheme would be enforced with the completion time period of January 2021.

As per reports, PIA’s total strength is around 14,500 (including outsourced staff) while it currently has a fleet of 29 aircraft, which cost Rs2.06 billion per month.

When compared with other airlines, the officials said the PIA has a ratio of 500 employees per aircraft, while Qatar had 133, Emirates 231, Turkish 94, and Etihad 211. Qatar Airways is operating with 240 aircraft and a total staff of 32,000 employees,

Back on December 21^st, PIA announced the cancellation of flights to and from Saudi Arabia following the new coronavirus variant.

PIA Spokesperson said that the suspension came following the cancellation of all international flights by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) after the spread of a new strain of COVID-19.