E-Paper | October 01, 2026

PIA IT system 'malfunction' brings operations to a standstill

Jawed Asghar Published
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Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) information technology system suffered a serious malfunction on Monday which has adversely affected the schedules of numerous flights.

Similar to the hacking troubles faced by British Airways over the past week, PIA's operations came to a standstill when their software failed around 9am on Monday.

A picture showing PIA's system malfunctioning.─DawnNews
A picture showing PIA's system malfunctioning.─DawnNews

The disturbance delayed numerous flights and prevented any further bookings from being made.

PIA officials said they cannot yet confirm what caused the disruption.

More than 60 per cent of British Airways flights from Heathrow airport were cancelled over the weekend after the airline was hit by a worldwide computer system power failure on Saturday. The error caused cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers.

Pakistan
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Nomi Goraya
May 29, 2017 03:55pm
Why we need PIA what good it is doing for country privatize it
Recommend 0
M.Saeed
May 29, 2017 03:59pm
So, we are following British Airways in IT crash ?
Recommend 0
Fahad
May 29, 2017 04:07pm
PIA is a liability
Recommend 0
mujtaba
May 29, 2017 04:10pm
Yeah lets privatize the whole country! This is a propaganda just to sell PIA to the business tycoon of Pakistan. Defaming our national treasure, this country is already under so much debt and by selling of these National revenue generators what will be left with?
Recommend 0
Zak
May 29, 2017 04:15pm
PIA is fine. Change the entire management. No political interference should be allowed.
Recommend 0
Harmony-1©
May 29, 2017 04:17pm
@Mujtaba - Why conspiracy theory of "propaganda"? BA has and other airlines have suffered this computer glitch/hack too. Its all over the news!
Recommend 0
Azmeen
May 29, 2017 04:19pm
Privatize this chronic sick entity. Hope PPP & PTI will not play politics on this issue is national interest.
Recommend 0
Kash
May 29, 2017 04:19pm
BA said it was a power supply issue but it seems no one believes that. BA IT all in India. It seems hackers are deliberately trying to target airlines.
Recommend 0
merit
May 29, 2017 04:32pm
International conspiracies finally paid off and PIA's reputation is spiraling down to a failed carrier.
Recommend 0
SUltan
May 29, 2017 04:32pm
PIA was like this without the IT failure always delaying and canceling flights.
Recommend 0
Khan
May 29, 2017 04:36pm
PIA is like Pakistan, everybody trying to demolish it but PIA foundations are strong enough to bare the quakes!!
Recommend 0
timetostopthis
May 29, 2017 04:39pm
What does this have to do with the problems being experienced by BA? Just looking for excuses.
Recommend 0
Khizer Nabi
May 29, 2017 04:51pm
I don't know what does it need to straighten up the things once and for all
Recommend 0
Skeptic
May 29, 2017 05:03pm
This may be a sign, from above... Shut down the airline, fire everyone and start from scratch with a new brand, business model, new staff, new management and entire different attitude than what has plagued this carrier of late. It is time to say goodbye to the 'Great People'. And start with Caring People.
Recommend 0
Muhammad zafar iqbal
May 29, 2017 05:03pm
PIA should have alms and Sacrificial (SADQA) to run their business and to avoid bringing bad name on account of smuggling from their ground and flight crew . PIA is in much trouble now a days .may heading towards conclusion like Pakistan Steel.
Recommend 0
Kamran Rana
May 29, 2017 05:05pm
PIA should be sold to a foreign airline or else completely shut down. No pride in running flag career with losses. Money can be well spent elsewhere.
Recommend 0
Zain Abbas
May 29, 2017 05:48pm
@Nomi Goraya PIA is still an Asset for all of us... Govt. wants to present it as a complete failure so that public say kindly close it... what wud happen then? PIA will be bought by their off shore company on half the price.
Recommend 0
Waseem Khan
May 29, 2017 06:07pm
It is evident that these series of failures and scams are staged to establish a sound justification for the eventual shutdown of the national airline.
Recommend 0
Rashid K
May 29, 2017 06:45pm
PIA must consider it a badge of honour to be associated with same problems as big boy airline like British Airways. Dream-on PIA you're in a world of your own.
Recommend 0
Riaz murtaza
May 29, 2017 06:45pm
Just keep the corruption out of PIA will survive it.
Recommend 0
lafanga
May 29, 2017 06:50pm
@Zain Abbas Agree with you 100%. They want to show it as failed entity then buy it off at bargain price. Don't let go past these crooked and corrupt so called leaders of Pakistan.
Recommend 0
Ijlal
May 29, 2017 06:59pm
This government is deliberatly doing this. We will only know in time as to why this government was destroying pia
Recommend 0
vikas
May 29, 2017 08:03pm
Outsource your software to India. That is if China allows it.
Recommend 0
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
May 29, 2017 08:03pm
PIA in trouble again. Any chances of a good news stemming out of PIA in the near future? Unfortunately, the answer is a big no.
Recommend 0
Leoman
May 29, 2017 08:13pm
In what other areas can we compare proudly PIA with BA. Moreover, this sort of malfunction is a routine matter for PIA. The point to note is that not a single step is taken for any remedial action from any angle. Just true or false statement is issued and enough.
Recommend 0
Leoman
May 29, 2017 08:14pm
@Nomi Goraya but those who make millions from it.. what about them. Will they be happy??
Recommend 0
WARRIs
May 29, 2017 08:15pm
Does PIA need IT system?? When PIA can issue handwritten boarding passes to passengers to stand in the aisles during the flight then it does not need IT system!!
Recommend 0
Jolt
May 29, 2017 08:18pm
@Zak how many more times does this need to be tried . There is a new management every year. PIA won't be fine unless everyone in PIA is fired and new people are brought in . We have to get rid of everyone from the pilots to the gate staff
Recommend 0
tanu
May 29, 2017 09:01pm
very convinient. Blame Britidh Airways
Recommend 0
Sameer
May 29, 2017 09:14pm
This is suspicious. So many things going wrong this time of the year. Someone really wants to sell it. After all the hardwork of appointing incompetent on top positions; it would be a pity not to.
Recommend 0
MUHAMMAD ALI
May 30, 2017 04:05am
@mujtaba, I agree with you 100%. Country assets are not sold or privatized. PIA can revive if we elect honest and dedicated ppl who love Pakistan as they love their own children. There is an old saying "who sells their own Motherland for the sake of money". Only those who are not sincere.
Recommend 0
Hassan Ahmad
May 30, 2017 09:56am
It was a greatest airline in the world. Please let's make our airline greatest again. When we see the our flag in overseas , trust me u have no other feelings then how much we miss, home. Long live Pakistan...
Recommend 0
Hassan Ahmad
May 30, 2017 09:58am
Make Pakistan, and everything Pakistani great again.
Recommend 0

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