Over 20 PIA Staff Accused of Diverting Seat Fees at Lahore Airport

LAHORE: More than 20 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees stationed at Allama Iqbal International Airport have been implicated in a financial scam involving the illegal diversion of fees collected for premium and extra-legroom seats, according to official audit documents revealed on Thursday.

The comprehensive audit report revealed that ground handling personnel, including at least three female staff members, systematically pocketed additional charges paid by passengers for coveted extra-legroom, bulkhead, and front-row premium seating options. Instead of depositing these auxiliary revenues into the national flag carrier’s official accounts, the accused personnel allegedly manipulated seating allocation logs during departure check-ins to conceal the widespread misappropriation.

The revelations come at a crucial financial juncture for Pakistan International Airlines, as the federal government actively pursues the privatization and structural overhaul of the loss-making state enterprise to curb mounting public sector deficits. Financial leakages, institutional malpractices, and governance lapses at major international aviation hubs like Lahore further undermine passenger trust and threaten to complicate the airline’s ongoing valuation and restructuring process.

Following the detailed audit findings, aviation authorities and PIA executive management have launched formal departmental inquiries against all named personnel. Senior airline officials confirmed that severe administrative sanctions, potential dismissals, and formal references to federal investigative bodies are being finalized to recover the embezzled funds and enforce strict oversight mechanisms across all domestic check-in counters.