KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is facing a major operational crisis as several of its aircraft remain grounded due to the unavailability of spare parts.

Sources reveal that only 19 out of the airline’s 34 aircraft, including Airbus, Boeing, and ATR models, are currently operational, while the rest are un-flyable. The situation has worsened due to the airline’s failure to procure essential spare parts, including aircraft engines, on time. It has come to light that in a desperate attempt to keep some aircraft operational, PIA has resorted to using parts from grounded planes to service others, according to sources.

Despite the ongoing crisis, PIA continues to pay millions of dollars in lease payments to international leasing companies for aircraft that are not in service. The prolonged grounding of multiple planes has further strained the airline’s already fragile financial position.