Pakistan International Airlines has recovered more than Rs. 5 million from over 20 employees accused of pocketing additional fees collected from passengers for premium, extra-legroom and bulkhead seats at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, according to official audit documents.
The alleged irregularities involved ground staff and officers, including three women, who reportedly charged passengers for premium and extra-legroom seats on both domestic and international flights but kept the money instead of depositing it into the airline’s accounts.
The staff allegedly altered system records to classify the seats as standard, concealing the additional charges collected from passengers, the documents show.
The matter surfaced during an audit of the airline’s revenue operations at the Lahore airport. The national carrier has since recovered the misappropriated amount and initiated disciplinary proceedings against those involved, sources familiar with the development said.
The Lahore Finance and Audit Committee uncovered the irregularities while reviewing records for May 2024 and May 2025. Following the findings, Lahore station manager Ashfaq Hussain Awan was directed to initiate formal action.
According to the audit documents, PIA recovered Rs. 5,060,269 through salary deductions from more than 20 identified employees and deposited the amount into the airline’s account.
PIA employees reportedly remain on duty
Despite the recovery, the employees implicated in the case reportedly continue to work in their existing positions. Departmental disciplinary proceedings were required under PIA rules, but further administrative action was halted following interventions by senior officials, according to the report.
Awan confirmed that the money had been recovered from the individuals concerned and deposited into PIA’s account. He added that one of the employees had since retired.
Awan also said he had not received formal communication from the competent authorities regarding disciplinary action against any staff member.
Separate airport access case involving PIA staffer
The report also cited a separate incident in which the Airports Security Force (ASF) canceled a PIA employee’s airport entry pass after the staffer was allegedly found providing unauthorized priority assistance to a passenger at Lahore Airport on May 9, 2026.
According to an ASF letter dated May 2026, the employee allegedly facilitated a passenger at an immigration counter on a priority basis. The action was described as a violation of government instructions governing the use of airport entry passes.
The two incidents highlight separate allegations involving PIA personnel at Lahore Airport. In the seat-charging case, the airline recovered the disputed amount, while the available report does not establish whether further disciplinary action has been taken against the employees involved.
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