ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: Although officials of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) admitted before the Supreme Court on Tuesday that only hard work and honesty could save the national carrier from declining, none of them appeared to be sufficiently conversant with the issues involved to satisfy the inquisitive court.

A number of heads of PIA departments, who appeared one after another in the court, failed to satisfy a three-judge bench which eventually adjourned the hearing for Dec 14 with the observation that it was not rocket science to understand that “you people are all responsible” for the losses suffered by the airline.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry regretted that the culture of nepotism had become so endemic in the airline that even duty rosters and lucrative routes were given to the crew on the basis of favouritism and contracts for repairs and spare parts were also awarded on the same consideration. “This becomes the basis of vices like smuggling and also reasons for frequent delays at the international airports.”

The bench had taken up the case on applications moved by the Transparency International and Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Marvi Memon of the PML-N alleging rampant corruption in PIA.

The chief justice observed that the Civil Aviation Authority was equally responsible for the pathetic situation.

The CAA was represented by Director Legal Obaidur Rehman Abbasy.

Although Advocate Raja Bashir appeared on behalf of PIA, Director Human Resource Shahnawaz Rehman and Director Engineering Babar Kamal answered most of the questions put by the court.

At the last hearing on Nov 13, the court was informed that PIA had suffered a whopping loss of Rs119 billion last year alone. The per-person revenue of PIA is one of the highest in the world and international routes have been reduced to 26 from 46.

With only 26 aircraft in the PIA fleet operational and approximately 20,000 employees, the ratio of employees per aircraft was 570, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, a member of the bench, calculated and said this was a phenomenon which should be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

On one occasion, the PIA representatives startled the court when they said that only three per cent of the employees were appointed on merit while the rest came through quota system as per government rules. “This quota system is not at all matching with the international standards and thus the major reason for continuous deterioration of the national flag carrier,” they said.

But the court said the manpower could not be imported and, therefore, their skills needed to be enhanced through trainings.

The PIA directors admitted that PIA was incurring losses in 10 international routes, besides the service provided by the cabin crew was also not something to be appreciated.

Justice Azmat asked the directors if they were suggesting that even African airlines were more efficient than PIA and whether they wanted legislation by parliament to determine the ratio of people per aircraft.

“PIA is a commercial airline and not a government department,” he reminded them.

The directors said Boeing 777 and ATR 42 aircraft owned by PIA faced a financial loan of $565 million, adding that the airline straight away suffered a loss of Rs40 billion last year because of exchange rate difference after depreciation of the rupee which was beyond the control of PIA.

When Marvi Memon informed the court that many flights were being delayed at international airports because of PIA, Justice Azmat said questions should be asked how many flights took off on time.

“PIA’s travel is a complete safety hazard to every passenger,” Ms Memon said.

“That’s the in-flight entertainment,” Justice Azmat responded.