KARACHI: The Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (Palpa) has criticised the PIA for getting two ‘unfamiliar’ aircraft on wet lease for the Haj operation, saying it would put unnecessary financial burden on the cash-starved organisation.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Palpa said the national flag carrier had successfully carried out the previous Haj operation with its own fleet and the same could have been done this year too. However, if it was necessary to acquire the planes then the airline could have obtained Boeing-747 or Boeing-777 on dry lease which could have been flown by its crew and a huge amount could have been saved.

It pointed out that under the wet lease the crew would come along with the aircraft and the PIA would pay them while its own employees were already drawing salaries.

Under the dry lease the PIA would have used its own crew.

The association said the decision would add to the woes of the national airline at a time when it was facing a financial crisis.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2015

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