ISLAMABAD, June 6: PIA diverted four Skardu-bound flights back to Islamabad and cancelled five last month due to bad weather, says a press release of the national airliner here. Clarifying a news item published in Dawn on Tuesday (June 6), the release said PIA during the month of May operated 31 flights to Skardu out of which 22 were on schedule, four were diverted back to Islamabad and five were cancelled due to bad weather. “None of the flights was cancelled due to any other reason except for bad weather”, the release said.

Some flights were delayed due to awaiting improvement of weather and later they were also operated, it added.

“The flights that were diverted back to Islamabad from Skardu were because of anticipated blockage of route on the return sector, which may otherwise result in night stop of aircraft there. It is a well known fact that weather on the Northern Areas routes develop very rapidly”.

Flights are operated on the basis of weather report issued by the local Met office in Skardu and normal weather conditions en-route.

“PIA assigns all flights to Northern Areas the highest of priority except when the weather conditions are bad, and safety of the passengers becomes a factor”, the release said.