PIA got lots of free advertising in the UK today thanks to the British Media and the poor Sahil.

Apparently, PIA has a new (tail) livery.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs469.ash1/25736_1364668726112_1513444201_929769_5037352_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs469.snc3/25736_1364668686111_1513444201_929768_157275_n.jpg

If true, let me be the first here to say...its butt ugly

That just looks so stupid.

PIA to expand flight operations by launching new destinations

KARACHI (April 01 2010): PIA is expanding its flight operations this year, by launching new destinations and increasing the frequency of its existing flights. PIA is pleased to announce commencement of its new weekly flight to Kuala Lumpur from Lahore/Islamabad on every Wednesday.

The airline now operates three weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur from Pakistan two flights from Karachi every Friday and Sunday and one flight from Lahore/Islamabad. Managing Director PIA, Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon while sharing his views on the commencement of third weekly flight to Kuala Lumpur; said that this flight meets the longstanding demand of travellers, business and expatriate community.

The National Carrier is expanding its operations to new destinations while increasing the frequency of its existing well - established routes such as Karachi- London, Karachi - Dubai and other destinations, he added. PIA's first flight for Kuala Lumpur carrying 204 passengers took off on Wednesday at 7:00 am from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore.

Passengers of the said flight were seen off by PIA District Manager Lahore, Mansoor A Mela and other senior officials of the airline. PIA has planned twice weekly flights to Chicago, USA via Barcelona from Pakistan starting from June 2, 2010. The airline will also start direct flight to Jeddah from Sialkot on April 3, 2010, while one weekly London flight from Sialkot via Karachi has already been introduced earlier this week.

Fourth weekly flight from Karachi to London with B777 aircraft will be starting from May 10, 2010, and a third weekly flight to New York starting from May 18, 2010. PIA is now operating twice daily flights from Karachi to Dubai with both morning and evening departures for the convenience of the passengers. The airline will also operate a third weekly frequency to Oslo/ Copenhagen starting Thursday April 1, 2010. The increased flight frequencies and new destinations introduced will further facilitate passengers besides earning revenues for the national carrier.

http://brecorder.com/index.php?id=1038560&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

Apparently, PIA has a new (tail) livery.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs469.ash1/25736_1364668726112_1513444201_929769_5037352_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs469.snc3/25736_1364668686111_1513444201_929768_157275_n.jpg

If true, let me be the first here to say...its butt ugly
It looks worse than these pictures. Just saw it yesterday.

They've probably run out of ideas, that's why they're making ugly designs.

Such things only happens where there's no merit and people get jobs by either giving a bribe or by the political influence...Ineligibility and In Competency all over every where.

Some more pictures of the new design.

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt191/ManuelPeitz/Aircrafts/Boeing747-367PakistanInternationalA.jpg


Boeing 777 is now doing test-runs!

QUKYCDoww1U

I actually quite like it. :banana::banana:

Right priorities: PIA’s version

Friday, 02 Apr, 2010

This is apropos of Ahmad Sultan’s letter ‘PIA: govt needs to set its priorities right’ (March 21). Mr Sultan is unaware of the facts and has based his analysis on his misunderstanding of PIA’s financials.

For instance, PIA has not received any subsidy from the government since the present management assumed charge in 2008 – unlike the other organisations and departments -- nor have we asked the government to give us financial assistance to start new flights.

PIA suffered a loss of PKR 39.72bn in 2008 which was mainly due to abnormal increase in international fuel prices, which were over 34 per cent higher on a year-on-year basis and 24 per cent devaluation of the Pak rupee against the US dollar. The impact of these two items alone explains the reasons for the incremental loss in 2008.

With just a little research, it will be learnt that these high fuel prices impacted the whole aviation industry and had led to bankruptcy for several airlines.

The total industry losses in 2008 as per the IATA report are $16.8bn. These factors are beyond control of the airline although several measures have been taken to mitigate the loss.

The airline has reduced its losses by over 84 per cent in 2009 versus 2008. This is very a significant achievement given the ongoing recession in the international markets

Regarding the contention that PIA’s fleet is not cleared to operate in Europe, we are pleased to state that all such aircraft that PIA intends to use to fly to Europe have all the requisite clearances.

The overall technical reliability of PIA stands at 95 per cent and 99.5 per cent for Haj operations.

This great accomplishment was achieved by PIA’s highly skilled engineering staff.

Granted, we have our challenges of past accumulated debts, and of rebuilding this great national institution to return to the glorious past.

We at PIA are committed to keep the flag up and that we appreciate our customers to continue to guide us with their valuable constructive suggestions in meeting your expectation of being the great people to fly with.

CAPT MUHAMMAD AIJAZ HAROON
Managing Director, PIA
Karachi

Source: dawn (http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/letters-to-the-editor/right-priorities-pias-version-240)

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20100403/Sub_Images/1100900617-1.jpg

Its not that much bad!

It suits better on B777

I Like the new version its much better....

Amazing livery! I actually like it alot. The B777 look really modern compared to the inital 747 photographs!

Some more pictures.

http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/photos/APBGK.jpg
Link: http://www.skyliner-aviation.de/viewphoto.main?LC=nav2&picid=6385

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/uf/32272/middle/1270299210YfFZdA.png
Copyright to a member of airliners.net

AP-BGK is already doing rounds at Birmingham International Airport, UK
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/9672/apbgkbhx201004033.jpg
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3576/apbgkbhx201004032.jpg

its looks awesome much better then the precious one.

Took a flight from ISB to KHI a couple a days back. The steward was giving headphones out of a steel box (the kind you have on planes). Guess what the box said...
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Air India!

Talk about a faux pas. If they really had to steal a box, they could've stolen it from some other airline.

Took a flight from ISB to KHI a couple a days back. The steward was giving headphones out of a steel box (the kind you have on planes). Guess what the box said...
Air India!

Talk about a faux pas. If they really had to steal a box, they could've stolen it from some other airline.

Thats really terrible, on so many levels. I'd have definitely said something to not only steward but also to other passengers to embarrass them. Tell me you said something too?

I took Air blue to Isloo and back to KHI from PSHWR last week too and they were lot better than I expected. Though 2 of the stewardesses were same, probably short of staff.

BTW Umais, what happened to you promising to call me in KHI? I talked to Brighty few times but never heard from you, even though you had my # there.

Thats just as bad as stealing in my book, not keeping your word!! tsk tsk

Took a flight from ISB to KHI a couple a days back. The steward was giving headphones out of a steel box (the kind you have on planes). Guess what the box said...
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
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Air India!

Talk about a faux pas. If they really had to steal a box, they could've stolen it from some other airline.

pics or it never happened!

Thats really terrible, on so many levels. I'd have definitely said something to not only steward but also to other passengers to embarrass them. Tell me you said something too?

I took Air blue to Isloo and back to KHI from PSHWR last week too and they were lot better than I expected. Though 2 of the stewardesses were same, probably short of staff.

BTW Umais, what happened to you promising to call me in KHI? I talked to Brighty few times but never heard from you, even though you had my # there.

Thats just as bad as stealing in my book, not keeping your word!! tsk tsk
You know the reason! I've been really busy!! BTW, you still in KHI? I actually thought of meeting you up in ISB (had a car an ample free time), but didn't have a computer at my disposal so couldn't access the site to get your number.

Actually, make a plan with brighty, and then we 3 can meet. Keep it around 6-7 somewhere in PECHS. Of course anyone else who wants to join in and is more than welcomed.

pics or it never happened!
Was surely a picture moment, but my camera was in the carry-on bag and I was in the window seat. And couldn't have turned on my phone mid-flight. Anyone flying ISB-KHI in a 747 should be on a look out for it!

Actually, make a plan with brighty, and then we 3 can meet. Keep it around 6-7 somewhere in PECHS. Of course anyone else who wants to join in and is more than welcomed.

He's back to USA. :lol:

Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah
visited the PIA Head Office to discuss airline affairs and tourism prospects for his province on Thursday.

According to a press release, a meeting was held at the airline’s head office attended by senior officials where Shah offered his full support to PIA for promoting tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan.

PIA HR and Administration Director Haneef Pathan while concurring with the chief minister offered his organisation’s full support for promotion of tourism.

Two PIA aircraft @ Manchester - © Mike Moores

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/5/2/9/1683925.jpg (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Pakistan-International-Airlines/Boeing-777-340-ER/1683925/L/)

^^ Nice pic.

I'm doing an internship at PIA this summer. I have heard you don't learn much there.

I'm doing an internship at PIA this summer. I have heard you don't learn much there.

You can get as much out of it you want dude. Use the opportunity to explore, learn and soak up from whatever aspects of the organisation interest you.

Yeah, I'm going there with the intention of learning something valuable. I'll be in the Ispahani hanger. Another benefit will be 50% off at the airport McDonalds :D

http://www.plane-mad.com/photos/11/11131.jpg

© (http://www.plane-mad.com/aviation-photos/search/user/bmi-alan/page1.html)

What's the cost involved in putting a new livery? I mean considering all the financial troubles, I hardly think this was a good decision.

What's the cost involved in putting a new livery? I mean considering all the financial troubles, I hardly think this was a good decision.

Whatever it was, it was a total waste of money. Last livery was pretty decent.

Deputy Managing Director PIA, Salim Siyani has said the airline’s revenue increased to Rs 22.848 billion in the first quarter January – March 2010, reflecting an increase of 7.5 percent as compared to the same quarter last year. However, the cost driven by higher fuel prices continues to pose huge challenges, he said.

“The phenomenal performance became possible due to teamwork, dedication and hard work by all PIA employees including the officers and staff of one of our most productive stations, Lahore”, said Salim Siyani while addressing the Officers of Lahore Region at the PIA Senior Staff Association’s (PIASSA) Annual Dinner.

Shields and Medals were awarded to Fifty Eight children of PIA Officers’ who secured above 75 percent marks in Matriculation, Intermediate, O-levels and A –Level examinations and those children who memorised the Holy Quran, becoming young Hafiz-e-Quran. While Twenty Retiring PIA Officers of Lahore region were also awarded shields and cash awards.

While explaining the basic cost structure of the airline he said if PIA earns a rupee, majority of it is utilised for various expenses such as fuel, maintenance of aircrafts and other administrative expenses, and the remaining 15 paisas are used for other operational expenses and meeting the cash flow requirements.

Therefore, he said, the management is cognizant of the constraints and PIA needs to increase the size of the bread by cutting cost and increasing revenue, so that the airline’s stakeholders may reap the benefits rather than thinking of distributing the same bread.

Remembering his student life, DMD PIA said to the children that when he left for the USA for higher studies he had just 10 dollars in his pocket; with hard work and dedication in academics and work made him excel in his career and also made his dream come true which was to work for the National Flag Carrier.

I had the unfortunate experience of flying ibera (and previously on Alitalia) and I would argue to give PIA 5-star (ok, make that 4) status.

Yeah, I'm going there with the intention of learning something valuable. I'll be in the Ispahani hanger. Another benefit will be 50% off at the airport McDonalds :D

DONT. EAT. SHIT.

Yeah, I'm going there with the intention of learning something valuable. I'll be in the Ispahani hanger. Another benefit will be 50% off at the airport McDonalds :D

I did it in winter 2004. You will love the environment and there will butt load of Jayalas who will teach you KADOO. But if you love planes you will enjoy it so did i.

I did my engineering last year and till now i am free can anyone tell me whts the pay for fresh graduates in PIA? thx

PIA announced the launch of its 3rd weekly flight between Sialkot and Muscat from May 24, 2010. With the introduction of this flight PIA will now operate three weekly flights from Sialkot to Muscat on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. PIA is already operating flights from Sialkot to Sharjah, Kuwait, Jeddah and London and national flag carrier is exploring possibilities of launching operation from Sialkot to Barcelona and some other destinations that are commercially viable.

Saturday, May 29, 2010
By By our correspondent
KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Friday accused former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of its current financial woes, saying that he mismanaged affairs of the national flag carrier when his government was in power.

The financial mismanagement in Sharif’s tenure as prime minister led to huge revenue losses and pushed the corporation to incur interest cost, a PIA spokesman said in a press statement.

“The main reason for the deficit was financial cost of debts obtained due to revenue losses on account of financial mismanagement in the airline during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif.”

The “so-called Open Skies Aviation Policy, enforced by Sharif” was one of the main reasons for the worst financial position of the airline,” he said.

The corporation’s response came following a statement issued by Nawaz Sharif in which he said the state-run companies suffered billions of rupees losses due to mismanagement and irregularities.

PIA is the second state-run company, which issued a statement against the former prime minister. Earlier, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) did the same in an unprecedented response to the allegations made by the opposition leader.

The PIA spokesman said that Sharif’s decision to open Pakistani airspace for Gulf-based airlines proved much costlier for the national flag carrier.

Out of the total international traffic from Pakistan, 81 per cent is going through Gulf carriers. Around 77 per cent of these passengers are destined for Europe and the United States, according to a recent survey conducted by PIA.

The corporation has accumulated losses of over Rs70 billion and it’s every effort to get restrictions imposed against growing influence of foreign carriers remained futile.

The spokesman said that PIA successfully slashed post-tax losses by 83 per cent during 2009 against the preceding year due prudent financial management and high revenues.

During the outgoing year, the corporation’s revenues surged to an all-time high of Rs94.5 billion. The post-tax financial loss came down to Rs5.82 billion in 2009 from Rs36.14 billion a year ago, he said.

Reduction in losses during 2009 and the first quarter of 2010 showed that the management capitalised on the opportunities offered by changing macroeconomic environment, both globally and domestically, he said.

“The sub-committee of the National Assembly on Defence, headed by PML-N legislator has recently appreciated the efforts made by the PIA management in turning around the airline.”

“The management with the support of the board and employees is committed to bring about financial discipline, eradicate losses and become an agile and efficient organisation,” he added.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=241800

All PIA can do is whine. They are, for all intents and purposes, a Gulf carrier (location-wise). But hey, no-one has the brains in PIA to use it as a cheap airline for traffic between East and West.

frequency-wise maybe but PIA does serve quite a few non-ME destinations.

Just that the passengers do not want to fly them but rather choose going via some ME destination.

PIA has a good network actually, just that they don't capitalzie on it.

Whatever it was, it was a total waste of money. Last livery was pretty decent.

Actually it has reduced PIA expenditure since the introduction of the B777 during Ahmed Saeed tenture. Those special tails cost alot of money for the airline since they had to be done overseas and transported back to Pakistan. You may recall seeing a PIA B777-300/ER with half a white tail? The reason for that is because the chairman at the time didnt realise the high cost associated with them and ran out of budget to get it fixed!

The current chairman (Cpt. Aijaz) has actually done alot more in the last few years than the idiots running the airline for the ten years! The new livery has been designed in house so money does not have to be spent to get it done externally - hence saving costs.

New ideas are being launched for economy as well as business. The aircraft are also being deployed on the more lucrative routes. Such as amenity kits with watches/pens etc.

Back in the day before Aijaz PIA was competiting with its old Boeing 747 services whilst Emirates/Qatar/Gulf/BA was pulling in the new Boeing 777s!! Aijaz has now deployed new aircraft on these routes and started to replace the older ones.

PIA advertising is also really good, they are advertising all over the world. I have heard adverts on my local (outside PAKISTAN) radio station for PIA new routes and services. The newspaper ads are really modern and in time with today's trends.

At the end of the day, the problem is the current chairman has to clear up the mess for people that shouldnt have had those jobs in the first place and then work on how to improve it as well as take **** from the Govt and MoD.

A comparison of regional national airlines by international destinations

Biman (Bangladesh)
http://www.biman-airlines.com/destinations/world_map.jpg


Air India
http://i50.tinypic.com/2q3b3b9.jpg


Air Lanka
http://i45.tinypic.com/1zq9e6x.jpg


PIA
http://www.piac.com.pk/PIA_About/images/PIA-Network-International-Aug.jpg

None of them flies to Australia and South Korea?

None of them flies to Australia and South Korea?

Or South America or most of Africa (except Air India which flies to Nairobi and the island of Mauritius both of which has a sizable Indian population).

How many people have you met that live in South Korea? or some South American city? or an Africa city? Australia is a surprise because I think there is a sizable indian and pakistani community there...but its too far off i guess and none of the national airlines are good in providing a hub for further destinations.

Or South America or most of Africa (except Air India which flies to Nairobi and the island of Mauritius both of which has a sizable Indian population).

How many people have you met that live in South Korea? or some South American city? or an Africa city? Australia is a surprise because I think there is a sizable indian and pakistani community there...but its too far off i guess and none of the national airlines are good in providing a hub for further destinations.

I think his family lives in Somalia and home town is also somalia:nuts:

Or South America or most of Africa (except Air India which flies to Nairobi and the island of Mauritius both of which has a sizable Indian population).

How many people have you met that live in South Korea? or some South American city? or an Africa city? Australia is a surprise because I think there is a sizable indian and pakistani community there...but its too far off i guess and none of the national airlines are good in providing a hub for further destinations.
To fly non-stop to Australia probably requires the longest range planes and maybe we don'twanna buy them. But I don't know the range of our 777s, so I might as well be talking outta my ass.

Having just said that, I think it might have to do with the average age of the population there. The average age of Pakis in Australia must be like half that of those in UK/US. The "trend" of going down under only started 5-10 years ago with students. I don't know, just thinking out loud. No big families, no travel to meet khandans.

My phuppo/cacha moved there in the 80s. Dunno, maybe they were among the first desis to go there.

i dont know about others but my 90% family is in Australia (98% born in australia)... and we are here from 1890s

i dont know about others but my 90% family is in Australia (98% born in australia)... and we are here from 1890s

so you're like 4th generation Pakistani Australian? props for still staying upto-date on Pakistani events.

who ever plotted the cities on the PIA map needs a geography lesson....
although destinations served are impressive

so you're like 4th generation Pakistani Australian? props for still staying upto-date on Pakistani events.

me 5th generation:) but my family 6th generation

how were you guys shipped there in the 1890's mayte

how were you guys shipped there in the 1890's mayte
by ship

by ship

lolx yea by ship,

lolx yea by ship,

are u familiar about pakistani stuff?? u know, culture n all?? have u ever visited pak??

^^ bro i am visiting Pakistan three times a year from last four years, yes Allhumdulillah i know my culture and I am proud to be a Paki, but its ver said SA doesnt fly to lahore any more.... my all krisflyer points are waste lolx

Somehow I doubt there were desi immigrants in Australia back when whites were still being shipped there. Australia was a bunch of 6 colonies before 1901.

Maybe the Brits took some South Asians for some work, not necessarily as slaves though. Probably hired some, like how they did for Singapore/Malaysia and I think West Indies too.

Somehow I doubt there were desi immigrants in Australia back when whites were still being shipped there. Australia was a bunch of 6 colonies before 1901.

My great great grand father used to work as security in-charge of a ship, he was few of educated Indians those times, so he used to regularly visit Aus in ships, one day he decided to stay back here and then got his whole family migrated to Aus

Somehow I doubt there were desi immigrants in Australia back when whites were still being shipped there. Australia was a bunch of 6 colonies before 1901.

u do know about the afghan n baloch workers who went there then rite..

If his family went there at 1800s he cannot have a Pakistani feeling (Because there were NO Pakistan in those days) just like people of Indian origin in Fiji, Mauritius, & Even in Andaman. some of them were actually from present day Pakistani regions they just missunderstood they are 'indians':)

lol lets get back to the topic guys

Low-cost Flydubai to start Pakistan flights from 21st

Friday, June 11, 2010
By Saad Hasan

KARACHI: A low-cost airline of Dubai will start flights to Pakistan from June 21 — the peak of summer season when the number of passengers heading to Middle East usually surges, officials told The News.

Flydubai, a subsidiary of Emirates for cheap-fare seekers, has been allowed to operate daily flight seven days a week, a senior Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official said.

“Karachi is open skies for Dubai. So there is no bar on Emirates and other Dubai airlines to fly to the city,” said Khawar Ghayas, an official of the CAA’s Air Transport directorate. “But they have not been allowed access to the north (Lahore and Islamabad).”

Entry of another airline will prove to be a tough competition for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other two private carriers, Shaheen Air and Airblue, industry officials said.

Flydubai was supposed to launch the flight from March, but faced stiff resistance from the local airlines and aviation authorities. However, they had to give in after interference from the “highest level”, they said.

The decision is particularly painful for PIA’s senior management, which is facing the wrath of the parliamentarians over its financial losses, but had been denied more flights to Dubai.

“It has been more than six months since PIA sought permission from Dubai to start flights from Sialkot and we haven’t been given permission,” a senior airline official said.

“They are openly disregarding the air services agreement, but the whole nation seems to be helpless.”

Under the agreement, Pakistani airlines can operate to Dubai from any destination in the country.

Similarly, Emirates can operate to Karachi unlimited number of flights.

“This is very bad for PIA’s business. Everyone says that the airline needs internal reforms, while they are conveniently ignoring growing penetration of the Gulf-based carriers, which are eating our revenues,” the official said.

According to a recent PIA survey, out of the total international traffic from Pakistan, 81 per cent is going through the Gulf carriers. About 77 per cent of these passengers are destined for Europe and the United States.

PIA posted a 23 per cent surge in its financial losses to Rs2.59 billion during the first quarter of the current year against Rs2.04 billion incurred during the corresponding period last year.

Faced with accumulated losses of over Rs70 billion, political interference in managerial affairs and most of the airplanes of old make, PIA is often forced to take stopgap measures like making out of schedule stops.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=244219

There you go KB...

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_KHI/20100613/Sub_Images/1100967694-1.jpg

Commercial aviation expert likely to head PIA

Thursday, June 17, 2010

By Mansoor Ahmad

LAHORE: The government is considering appointing a commercial aviation expert to head the cash-strapped Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) with an aim to halt its financial losses and improve image before finalising a bailout package for the national flag carrier, officials said on Wednesday.

The external auditors in their 2009 annual report on PIA have said that financial losses and mismanagement add to the uncertainty about this loss-making organisation, they said.

Commercial aviation experts said that PIA posted regular profits from 1980-1996 except for Rs117 million losses in 1991. It suffered first major loss of Rs4.795 billion in 1997 the command of the airline was shifted from aviation experts to political appointees.

After 2005, the airline has been suffering heavy losses. In 2006, its losses amounted to Rs4.513 billion that increased to Rs13.215 billion in 2007, Rs13.076 billion in 2008 and Rs39.987 billion in 2009.

Sources in the Defence Ministry confirmed that the interviews of some key figures from glorious days of PIA, corporate sector and business circles have been being conducted and reports are being finalised for the prime minister.

The government wants to help the national flag carrier stage a turnaround, but it is possible only under a professional and experienced management, the sources said.

The government has realised that putting ‘friends’ on the top has a price tag, which in case of PIA has been too much, ie, Rs55 billion in two years. The Cabinet decision of March 11 to put in professional managements at the corporation is being emphasised by new Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh, they said.

In his budget speech and prior meetings he refused to allow more funds for the corporation, which is not being run in a professional manner, the sources said.

Coming to the aid of Pakistan’s cash-strapped national flag carrier, a parliamentary committee has called for immediate steps to arrest the declining trend in the airline.

PIA Managing Director Capt Ijaz Haroon has already admitted that the airline had technically gone bankrupt since 2005.

Aviation experts believe that the PIA turnaround and its future viability will remain unpredictable unless grant of traffic rights to the Gulf countries’ airlines and PIA’s business strategies are not aligned in an innovative and interactive manner.

The Gulf carriers fly 60 flights to Pakistan every week and over 200 flights to points in America and Europe through their hubs, thus, carrying huge traffic from Pakistan, Haroon said.

The national carrier with a golden past started declining with the highly criticised political appointment of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as PIA Chairman in 1997 and again in 2004 when Shaukat Aziz put non-aviation professionals Tariq Kirmani and Zafar Khan as head of the airline, he added.

Source: The News

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has terminated the services of its 200 employees for holding fake degrees. According to the spokesman of the National Airline, the employees were sacked for submitting fake degrees for getting jobs. Sources have learned that 750 employees of the National Flag carrier were identified in 2008 who had submitted fake credentials for obtaining jobs. However, they had been given two years to complete their education.

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0258.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0259.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0265.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0259.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0265.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0267.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0269.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0280.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0282.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0284.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0290.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/IMG_0295.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/747TO2.jpg

http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/fadi84/A310TO.jpg

Which airport were these pics taken at?

Low-cost Flydubai to start Pakistan flights from 21st

Friday, June 11, 2010
By Saad Hasan

KARACHI: A low-cost airline of Dubai will start flights to Pakistan from June 21 — the peak of summer season when the number of passengers heading to Middle East usually surges, officials told The News.

Flydubai, a subsidiary of Emirates for cheap-fare seekers, has been allowed to operate daily flight seven days a week, a senior Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official said.

“Karachi is open skies for Dubai. So there is no bar on Emirates and other Dubai airlines to fly to the city,” said Khawar Ghayas, an official of the CAA’s Air Transport directorate. “But they have not been allowed access to the north (Lahore and Islamabad).”

Entry of another airline will prove to be a tough competition for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other two private carriers, Shaheen Air and Airblue, industry officials said.

Flydubai was supposed to launch the flight from March, but faced stiff resistance from the local airlines and aviation authorities. However, they had to give in after interference from the “highest level”, they said.

The decision is particularly painful for PIA’s senior management, which is facing the wrath of the parliamentarians over its financial losses, but had been denied more flights to Dubai.

“It has been more than six months since PIA sought permission from Dubai to start flights from Sialkot and we haven’t been given permission,” a senior airline official said.

“They are openly disregarding the air services agreement, but the whole nation seems to be helpless.”

Under the agreement, Pakistani airlines can operate to Dubai from any destination in the country.

Similarly, Emirates can operate to Karachi unlimited number of flights.

“This is very bad for PIA’s business. Everyone says that the airline needs internal reforms, while they are conveniently ignoring growing penetration of the Gulf-based carriers, which are eating our revenues,” the official said.

According to a recent PIA survey, out of the total international traffic from Pakistan, 81 per cent is going through the Gulf carriers. About 77 per cent of these passengers are destined for Europe and the United States.

PIA posted a 23 per cent surge in its financial losses to Rs2.59 billion during the first quarter of the current year against Rs2.04 billion incurred during the corresponding period last year.

Faced with accumulated losses of over Rs70 billion, political interference in managerial affairs and most of the airplanes of old make, PIA is often forced to take stopgap measures like making out of schedule stops.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=244219

There you go KB...


OK so Karachi is open space....but from the stats I posted (before flydubai started), the actual percentage of such flights weren't that different than say Lahore or Islamabad even if potentially UAE airlines can operate an unlimited number of times.

Secondly, as stated that under the agreement PIA can also fly to dubai from whichever city it wants, anyone knows why PIA's demand has not been met for flying from Sialkot?

Which airport were these pics taken at?

King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


Last two Karachi Airport

^^ i could see a lot of construction goin on in the 2nd last pic.. are u sure that's karacji too??

^^ i could see a lot of construction goin on in the 2nd last pic.. are u sure that's karacji too??

Yeah! If thats Karachi then what is that massive structure being built in the back?

Yeah! If thats Karachi then what is that massive structure being built in the back?

Its old pic booga

building is magna mall in its construction phase now its been completed & work going on its exterior & Interior

& the crane is for saima & square one towers

(search out ur library booga)

Thanx for clearing that up. I got all excited there thinking another tower is coming up! :laugh:

Wow, that actually looks pretty decent if last 2 pics are Karachi. In one of those pics, you can see the floodlights of a stadium and two white structures behind it. Those floodlights might belong to National Stadium and the white structures behind it might be the Navy Heights. They are 17-20 Fl towers for Navy officers.

But I would still like to see confirmation that these pics are indeed from Karachi.

Doesn't look like Karachi, I can't seem to recognize a single building in those pics. While taking off, you only have Gulistan-e-Jauhar buildings in the background. Still, I'll look a bit closer later.

On second thoughts, it IS Karachi.

But I would still like to see confirmation that these pics are indeed from Karachi.

Ur guess is right brighty why do u want to confirm it again & again

Wow, that actually looks pretty decent if last 2 pics are Karachi. In one of those pics, you can see the floodlights of a stadium and two white structures behind it. Those floodlights might belong to National Stadium and the white structures behind it might be the Navy Heights. They are 17-20 Fl towers for Navy officers.

Doesn't look like Karachi, I can't seem to recognize a single building in those pics. While taking off, you only have Gulistan-e-Jauhar buildings in the background. Still, I'll look a bit closer later.

2nd lst pic
Its karachi yaar , the small building seen behind of the plane is Askari's backside & greyish color wall is Magna mall nxt to its left is ARY's Backside the tall one is saima mobile mall (nxt to Honda showroom)

Lst pic
Originally Posted by brightside.
you can see the floodlights of a stadium and two white structures behind it. Those floodlights might belong to National Stadium and the white structures behind it might be the Navy Heights. They are 17-20 Fl towers for Navy officers

Officials say PIA on a crash course

After six months, the Pakistan International Airlines continues to wait for the new business plan that the federal government promised would pull the state-owned air carrier out of financial ruin.

In January, the finance ministry proposed to restructure eight flailing businesses, including the PIA, but officials say no progress has been made so far.

The primary hurdle is a lack of funds, according to the Convener of the National Assembly’s sub-committee of the Standing Committee on Defence, Begum Ishrat Ashraf.

“It just does not have the money!” she said summing up the problems she faced in restructuring the institution which has been struggling with huge financial losses for years.

The committee is set to meet with officials from the PIA and finance ministry on June 22 in an attempt to get the plan back on track. On the agenda is a new scheme to introduce bonds which will allow the organisation to legitimise expenditures and rearrange funds to improve finances.

However, Ashraf warned that the proposal is not likely to revitalise the PIA which she said is on a “crash course.”

At Rs2.6 billion, losses in the first quarter of this year have surpassed the same time last year despite the airline’s attempts to recuperate.

The weakest link in PIA’s financial equation is the cost for fuel, according to experts. The airline has spent Rs8.5 billion on fuel this quarter, a cost which former CEO and chairman, Tariq Kirmani, said could be reduced by refurbishing the fleet.

“The average age of a PIA plane is 23 years,” he said. “Besides not being equipped with fuel-efficient engines, the older a plane is the more fuel it requires.”

According to him, the average age of a plane should not exceed 10 years. An unlikely proposal as Ashraf said the PIA has a history of purchasing second-hand airplanes.

She said the outer bodies of these planes have become rough with time, resulting in increased friction in the air and thus more fuel consumption.

However, PIA Managing Director Aijaz Haroon said that the decrease in losses that the company did see was because of the decline in fuel costs which went down to Rs31 billion in 2009 compared to Rs45 billion in 2008.

But it is not just the planes that are the problem. According to Kirmani, PIA’s poor human resources have resulted in weak infrastructure.

“There is no plan and no policy for placement,” he said. With up to nine per cent of expenditure on salaries, the much-awaited business plan is expected to introduce better strategies for management. One proposal to be discussed on Tuesday is a body to monitor corruption at upper levels.

Ashraf claimed that the downfall of PIA commenced with a corruption-filled deal when former prime minister Shaukat Aziz ordered eight airplanes to be bought.

Early last month, Federal Minister for Privatisation Waqar Ahmad Khan said that PIA would eventually be privatised, despite its 99 per cent share in The Roosevelt Hotel in New York because of which the government earns up to $17 million every year.

However, he said “this is not an appropriate time to sell precious national assets for small discounts.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2010.

Pakistani Plane Emergency Lands due to Engine Failure

A Karachi-bound plane of Pakistan International Airlines made an emergency landing after its engine failed during its flight, reported local English TV channel Express on Monday evening.

According to the report, the plane made the emergency landing at an airport in Quetta, capital city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province.

The report didn't mention from where the plane took off.

So far no casualties or damages have been reported regarding the incident.

About a week ago, a local Islamabad-bound plane made an emergency landing at Karachi airport after receiving a report that a bomb was planted in the plane. But it later turned out to be only a threat by terrorists.

Recently there are signs showing that terrorists have shifted attack targets on communications system in the country. Over the last week or so, at least three bomb attacks on railway tracks have been reported in the country.

Analysts say the shift of the attack tactics by terrorists in the country is probably partially due to the fact that the local police and security forces have tightened their security protection in major cities across the country, especially following the May 28 attack on hundreds of innocent prayers in two mosques in Lahore,the largest city in Punjab province, and the June 8 attack on some 60 oil tankers near Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. The two afore-said attacks claimed more than 100 lives.

http://english.cri.cn/6966/2010/06/29/53s579763.htm

PIA plane in HD with new livery

4z-OYOX0wBg

^^ lokks gud

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/Ahmadrashid/FP_n15.jpg

Hajj applications exceed quota, draw date yet to be announced

ISLAMABAD, Jul 13 (APP): The Ministry of Religious Affairs has received around 81,000 Hajj applications under the government scheme, exceeding the quota of 80,000.“
.....
“Pakistan’s Hajj package as compared to India and Bangladesh is inexpensive, while we are providing better facilities too. In old Mina where India would accommodate 22 pilgrims in a camp, Pakistan would allocate the same camp to 16 Hujjaj,” the sources added.
The one-month pre-Hajj flight operations would commence from October 10 to airlift more than 160,000 intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan International Airlines and Saudi Airlines would operate both the pre and post Hajj flight operations.

Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot and Multan would be used as international gateways for Hajj flights to Jeddah and Madina and vice versa.

“While, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan and Sukkur would be used as feeder airports unless airlines operate small aircraft from these stations,” the sources maintained.
The ministry would send more than 160,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year under the government and private schemes.
The official sources said the process of accommodation hiring is in progress and it would be completed soon.

-APP


I wonder if any airline would lease the A380 for Hajj operations? Heck, can any Pakistani airport (currently) accommodate the A380 comfortably?

I don't any airport can currently accommodate the A380. Has Sialkot ever catered to Hajj flights before? And what about Quetta?

Not even the AIIA?

I think Sialkot had some flights last year too (not sure though).

I don't any airport can currently accommodate the A380.

I think AAIA can accomodate airbus because they were working on it 6 months ago...

^^ airbus yes, AirBus 380 no

PIA Clarification

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) said on Wednesday that it is a misconception that take-home pay of its pilots is less than what their counterparts get in the Middle East.

In response to a report published in The News on July 14, titled “Airlines ignoring passenger safety to save cost”, PIA said that the salaries of the pilots were increased in consultation with them.

“PIA signed a working agreement with PALPA, a body of pilots working in PIA, after intensive discussions on November 17, 2009,î it said.

It also said that the pilots and crew get more rest than allowed by other airlines. According to Air Navigation Rules prescribed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the rest time must be twice the duration of the last flight’s time and not less than 12 hours.

“However, PIA allows rest to its pilots and crew in excess of this minimum stipulated time.”

It said the CAA allows rest to be reduced to 12 hours on international flights and 10 hours on domestic flights in case of any disruption of the flights schedule.

“PIA has a liberal fuel policy and pilots of the airline are authorised to uplift extra fuel as and when required, if in their professional opinion there is need for it.”

-theNews

the original article

Airlines ignoring passenger safety to save costs

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
By By our correspondent
KARACHI: International airlines are compromising safety of passengers in an effort to save costs, Capt Carlos Limon, the President of International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations, said on Tuesday.

“I won’t blame all airlines, but some of them definitely ignore safety issues these days,” he said on the sidelines of a seminar on ‘Aviation Safety and Challenges’ organised by a local association of pilots.

He said that in some instances pilots’ opinion about the quantity of fuel needed for a flight was ignored. “Airlines disallow fuel without realising that it is the pilot who knows how much could be needed in any bad situation.”

After losing nearly $10 billion in 2009, the airline industry is expected to post a meager profit of $2.5 billion this year, says International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The profitability of airlines has been badly affected by terrorism threats, the financial meltdown and its consequent impact on global trade, fears of swine flu and the volcanic eruption in Europe.

Some of the biggest international carriers including British Airways have cut benefits of their employees who have protested such measures with strikes.

The cash-starved Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has also had troubles with its employees. “It is unfortunate that the airlines forget their employees when the business booms and come down heavily on us when it slows down,” said Limon.

The PIA pilots often complain that their take-home pay is less than their counterparts in the Middle East and that they are forced to take long flights without proper rest.

Limon said the best way of preventing terrorist acts remained screening of the passengers on the ground. “Cockpits cannot be kept completely shut during flights. Pilots have to go out to use toilet.”

He said that security staff deputed at airports must be trained in detecting suspicious passengers. “Carrying guns in cockpits is an option but not supported by all pilots.”

United State of America is the only country where pilots carry a handgun as a last resort to protection, he said. “But that could be dangerous. A gun can go off accidentally.”


Bird Hazard:

Capt Azizuddin, a member of Pakistan Airline Pilots’ Association, said that airlines lost a substantial amount of money in repairs necessitated by vultures hitting aircraft during takeoff and landing.

“The incidents related to bird strikes don’t get reported but situation is tough for pilots in Pakistan,” he said. “There are no designated garbage disposal sites around airports that attract birds.”

The number of such accidents increase in Islamabad when it rains as birds dive in to catch insects that crawl on the runway, Azizuddin said. “Vultures have become domestic birds. They are not scared of humans or aircraft and that is very dangerous.”

And why the fuck should their pay be the same as ME pilots anyway?

PIA Boeing 747 at Karachi Airport (Pakistan) Scheduled for Jeddah:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1096.jpg

Another PIA Boeing on tarmac
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1095.jpg

Inside PIA B-747:
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1098.jpg

PIA Boeing 747 on tarmac of Jeddah Int Airport (passengers boarding)
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1579.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1578.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1577.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj20/pk_revolution/Photo1582.jpg

Ewww look at the people on that flight :puke:

^^
I don't see anything wrong.

Lol is that one guy smoking next to the plane while waiting to get on?

Lol is that one guy smoking next to the plane while waiting to get on?

FK Ji :

Must be taking his last few "PUFFS" as he has been alloted a seat - may be by mistake - in the Non-Smoking Section.

Cheers:cheers:

Pilots’ body disappointed over PIA’s hasty reaction

Sunday, July 18, 2010
By our correspondent

KARACHI: Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (PALPA) on Saturday strongly reacted to a statement of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Carlos Limon, President of International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations.

Referring to PIA’s rebuttal published on July 15, President of PALPA Suhail Baluch said it is tantamount to insulting a foreign guest.

“PIA’s management has opened a Pandora box without even understanding the issue and its mechanics,” he said. “The management, which is from the flying community, should have had the courage to attend the seminar and know that they have referred to things that were not even on the agenda of the seminar.”

Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association had organised a two-day seminar on Aviation Safety Challenges and Strategies on July 13-14 in Karachi. On its closing day, PIA issued a clarification of a report which quoted Limon.

Baluch said the purpose of the seminar was to create awareness among professionals about the importance of every safety measure incorporated in the global aviation safety measures.

“Captain Carlos Limon limited himself in his address to the discussion on the basic theme of the seminar which can be verified from the seminar’s proceedings and press clippings,” he said.

“The haste with which PIA’s management reacted to the report without even discussing it with the honorable guest has hurt him even more,” he said, adding Limon never expected PIA to have reacted without taking his point of view into account.

“PALPA feels embarrassed by the outburst of the national carrier’s management which has also saddened the president of APEX Pilots’ body in the world.” He said as a matter of principle, IFALPA does not interfere in the affairs of individual airlines.

Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association desires cordial relations with PIA’s management and never expected that it would snub its honorable foreign guest for remarks he did not give to the media, he said.

The News reporter adds: It has become a habit of PIA’s public relations’ department to react to anything published about the airline without understanding the context.

The reporter did not quote Carlos Limon with specific reference to PIA. The president of IFALPA gave his general view on the overall industry.

The report did not try to malign PIA in any way. But it made reference to events, which have occurred in the past, including a disagreement between the management and pilots over pay scales.

The reporter spoke to Limon on the sidelines of the seminar as has been mentioned in the news report.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=251445

^^
I don't see anything wrong.

Once on a flight to Qatar, I had to bear a plane load of people like that. The smell was horrible :ohno:

FK Ji :

Must be taking his last few "PUFFS" as he has been alloted a seat - may be by mistake - in the Non-Smoking Section.

Cheers:cheers:

Oh Naresh, you mock us ever so subtly. I admire your temperament :lol:

Once on a flight to Qatar, I had to bear a plane load of people like that. The smell was horrible :ohno:

Brighty..Shalwar Qameez is our National Dress..Zaruri nai her pehenne wale k pas se BOO ae :lol: some people use perfumes & deodrnts too :lol:

Once on a flight to Qatar, I had to bear a plane load of people like that. The smell was horrible :ohno:
Tell me about it. Traveling to Isb/Lhe on anything besides the morning flight is like raping your nose.

Oh Naresh, you mock us ever so subtly. I admire your temperament :lol:

brightside Ji :

Mocking lies in the Eyes of the Beholder!

Cheers :cheers:

Nareshuddin vald Naresh (:laugh:) Its time you marched into the "Get To Know Thread" and introduced yourself and your introduction must be accompanied by a picture! :happy:


I promise not to rip on you...........i should tell you though, I'm not a man of my word :colgate:


Ok I'll go easy on you. :tongue3:

My Emirates flight from DXB to KHI was full of working class people and it was quite unpleasant. I still cant get myself to speak ill of them because they are working class folk who have it much MUCH harder than the rest of us who have it good, by the grace of the Almighty.

My Emirates flight from DXB to KHI was full of working class people and it was quite unpleasant. I still cant get myself to speak ill of them because they are working class folk who have it much MUCH harder than the rest of us who have it good, by the grace of the Almighty.

+1...I used to make fun of them too. I guess I've matured now, and understand the working & financial conditions these guys work under. I'm pretty sure if they were born in middle/upper-middle class families they'd be wearing nice clothes & smell nice too.

My Emirates flight from DXB to KHI was full of working class people and it was quite unpleasant. I still cant get myself to speak ill of them because they are working class folk who have it much MUCH harder than the rest of us who have it good, by the grace of the Almighty.
I'm talking about people who are rich enough to buy the plane they're flying. Poor people, I never make fun of.

Nareshuddin vald Naresh (:laugh:) Its time you marched into the "Get To Know Thread" and introduced yourself and your introduction must be accompanied by a picture! :happy:


I promise not to rip on you...........i should tell you though, I'm not a man of my word :colgate:


Ok I'll go easy on you. :tongue3:

oogabooga van kanooba Ji :

I am not Bald (I appreciate that "V" is next to "B" on the Keyboard)

Cheers :cheers:

oogabooga van kanooba Ji :

I am not Bald (I appreciate that "V" is next to "B" on the Keyboard)

Cheers :cheers:

No no thats Urdu! "Vald" means "S/o" :laugh:

SHC orders seizure of Turkish aircraft in PIA lawsuit

Saturday, August 07, 2010
By Jamal Khurshid

Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday ordered seizure of a Turkish aircraft, parked at the Sialkot airport, in a lawsuit filed by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the recovery of more than $10.4 million.

The PIA sued the Turkey-based ACT Airlines for the recovery of its two jet engines and lease rent worth over $6.2 million.

Plaintiff counsel Javed Sarwana submitted that the defendant corporation was violating the terms of agreement with regard to lease of two engines. He said that in pursuant to the agreement, the delivery of the engines was made to the defendant, which initially made regular payments but later failed to fulfil the requirements of the agreement. He submitted that last year the defendant agreed to make a payment of $90,000 per week under the head of lease rent, which was later reduced to $70,000, but from January 2010 the defendant had not been paying the lease rent.

The counsel submitted that defendant’s aircraft TC-ACY MSN 107 was presently stationed at the Sialkot airport and was likely to leave the country and if it happened the cause of the lawsuit will be frustrated.

He said that the leased out engines were not available in the country and unless order of the arrest was issued the plaintiff was likely to sustain irreparable loss and damages. The plaintiff prayed the court to direct the defendant to deliver the possession of the two engines to the plaintiff or pay a price worth $ 4 million. Besides, the PIA also sought decree in sum of $6.2 million for rental arrears till August.

The SHC after preliminary hearing of the case issued notices to the defendant for August 9 and in the meantime directed Director General Civil Aviation Authority Jinah Terminal to issue necessary instruction to the Sialkot airport restraining the aircraft No.TC-ACY MSN 107 from leaving Pakistani. However, the court observed that the aircraft could leave the country after furnishing a surety of $6.2 million.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=255213

PIA offers complete life insurance cover

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/e53f1800438e2e5dbd7eff90bbbb3ae7/608x325.jpg

KARACHI: PIA is offering optional ‘Complete Life Insurance Cover’ to its passengers travelling from overseas to Pakistan and passengers travelling on domestic routes.

A PIA spokesman said here on Thursday that under this scheme all passengers of PIA, travelling from overseas can avail insurance cover for their entire stay in Pakistan for Rs. 10 Million on payment of US $10 or equivalent amount in their local currency.

The scheme is also available for passengers travelling on domestic routes i.e. from their home town to another domestic destination.

The CLIC Scheme (Complete Life Insurance Cover) is a milestone and only of its kind in the history of global airline industry, the PIA spokesman added.

PIA is the first airline to offer insurance cover to passengers for the entire length of their stay in another country, he stated.

For the convenience of the passengers’ details and amount of premium to be charged in each country are available at PIA’s website www.piac.com.pk.

Passengers can also inquire details of the offer from PIA Booking Offices, Travel agents and PIA Call Centre on 111-786-786.

PIA spokesman further said that the insurance cover is offered in partnership with Eastern Federal Union (EFU) Insurance Company to provide protection to passengers in case of Accidental Death and Permanent Disability (even if it occurs as a result of any terrorist activity). This offer is valid for passengers with valid return tickets.

It was pointed out that PIA, during its six decades of existence, has achieved many ‘historic firsts’.

PIA was the first airline in the world to operate a scheduled helicopter service as well as start an Air Safari with jet aircraft in 1993-94.

PIA was the launch customer of the latest Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. PIA was the first Asian Airline to introduce a pure jet aircraft. In 1962, PIA broke the record for the fastest commercial flight between London and Karachi, PIA spokesman added.

Apart from the optional insurance scheme offered, all passengers travelling on any Domestic/International flight operated by PIA is covered under PIA’s Aviation Insurance Programme.

Passenger claims are settled on the basis of applicable convention for passengers’ claims settlement.

For International flights Pakistan is a signatory to Warsaw Convention as amended by Hague Protocol under which the passenger liability in case of accident is limited to USD 20,000/- per passenger excluding American nationals.

Under Domestic contract for carriage PIA is liable to pay Rs. 500,000/- per passenger.

So far, over 31,504 policies of CLIC (Complete Life Insurance Cover) have been sold since the commencement of this facility in April 2010, the highest numbers of Passengers who have availed the offered scheme are from Middle East, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, South Asia, India, China and Turkey; and the numbers are increasing.

While in Pakistan also 665 passengers availed the insurance cover from their home town to another domestic destination, PIA spokesman concluded. —APP

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-pia-offers-complete-life-insurance-cover-to-passengers-zj-06

PIA 747 at Manchester (pic by Mark)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4871917924_35398df66e_b.jpg

PIA at Oslo (by Leifskandsen)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4869226123_6318e6c114_b.jpg

PIA was also the first airline to show a movie on an international flight...

PIA was also the first airline to show a movie on an international flight...


Movie !!!:dunno:

Moula Jutt :guns1:

:rofl:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2578953083_cc90b47c07.jpg

WTH is that? Is that real? :shocked:

Not real at all.

It's got no wings or landing gear even.

it's real but i don't know how it works.

it's real but i don't know how it works. :eek2:

:lol: That looks like a Boeing 737 which has gone under some major Photoshoping.

It's not real, it is a part of photoshopped pics. Others in the series are robots at Seaview etc.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2657812926_fe9f594b51_o.jpg


This seems to be real in future ,InshaAllah

With the amount of loss PIA is making...don't think so. We can't even fill our 747s except during Hajj flights. 747s and A380s are for major carriers that form a major HUB like Emirates, Singapore, etc

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3088/2578953083_cc90b47c07.jpg

Looks like a Air Balloon.. :lol::lol:

PIA maintenance standards called into question

http://tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pia_4211111-640x480.jpg

The back-to-back incidents of aircraft engine failure over the past two weeks have prompted aviation experts to call into question PIA’s maintenance standards.

However, both the national flag carrier and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) insist that the incidents were caused by bird strikes, with no maintenance issue whatsoever.

On Aug 9, a PIA B-747 carrying 430 passengers from Karachi to Jeddah experienced engine failure during takeoff at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi.

The incident involved a Boeing 747-300 (registration AP-BGG), which experienced ‘severe vibrations’ in its engine number 2 just before it reached critical takeoff speed. The aircraft was stopped on the runway and the flight was delayed for over eight hours.

PIA’s spokesperson Sultan Hassan said that the high rate of engine failure was not caused because of any maintenance issue, but by birds hitting aircraft engines. Mr Hasan said that Flight PK-7305 aborted its take-off because of engine vibration. He said that the engine was inspected and no problem was found.

Since July 28 this year, this is the fourth such incident involving the same type of aircraft with the same problem.

On July 28, an engine failure was reported during a flight at 36,000 feet. On July 30, two engine failures were reported during takeoffs at the Karachi airport, and on August 2, another engine failure was reported at Karachi.

The PIA spokesperson said that more birds descended in areas near the airport during the rainy season, increasing the probability of hitting aircraft.

Aviation experts, however, disagree. They say that the rate of engine failure is “unacceptably high”. They said that airlines experiencing shaky financial conditions can “sometimes compromise on maintenance matters” which could have a negative impact on flight safety.

The CAA spokesperson, Pervaiz George, said that the authority’s code of conduct “is strict” and that the said incidents occurred because of “machine failure”.

When asked about old planes being used by PIA, he said: “No aircraft is too old to fly if its parts are being replaced regularly.” George added that the CAA carries out its own inspections after every minor incident, including engine failures.The Boeing 747s being used by PIA are over 25 years old.

Around 280 accidents related to engine failure have been reported since 1990, and the CAA needs to take notice of this alarming situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2010. (http://tribune.com.pk/story/39805/pia-maintenance-standards-called-into-question/)

pretty nice video of a PIA 747 taking off from Manchester (watch in full screen)

2msdZJnGyXI

Anyone knows which routes PIA still uses the 747s particularly the combi (if at all...apart from during Hajj flights)?

Woo! That is an awesome video :cheers:

PIA plane skids, all on board safe

KARACHI: A passenger aircraft of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) skidded slightly after landing at the Quetta airport as its tyres deflated on the runway, a PIA statement said on Tuesday.

The statement said that the captain of the PK-352 managed to control the aircraft and stop it safely. The plane had arrived in Quetta from Karachi. It said that all the passengers and crew members were safely disembarked and that the aircraft was also safe.

On the other hand, PIA Managing Director Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon ordered an immediate inquiry of the incident, the statement said. app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\08\18\story_18-8-2010_pg7_20 (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C08%5C18%5Cstory_18-8-2010_pg7_20)

Current condition of PIA and why it is so

gK-bvGIlr60

PIA advertisement in today's (August 22) newspaper promoting airline's flights from Hyderabad.

* Every Sunday from Hyderabad to Sukkur and Islamabad.
* Every Tuesday from Hyderabad to Shaheed Benazir Abad (Nawabshah), Lahore and Islamabad.
* Every Friday from Hyderabad to Lahore & Islamabad.

http://www.historyofpia.com/board/august_10/pk_aug22d.jpg

copyright: historyofpia.com

FLY-PIA is not 786-786... Or maybe they have 2 numnbers.

http://tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/pia_4211111-640x480.jpg
It will offer repair and overhaul facilities to other airlines of the region

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday signed an agreement with the US Trade Development Agency (USTDA) for holding a feasibility study on an engineering project called Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).

US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson, on behalf of the USTDA, and PIA Managing Director Muhammad Aijaz Haroon signed the agreement under which a grant of Rs58 million will be provided for carrying out the feasibility study.

Under the MRO project, PIA would be offering maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities to other airlines of the region, said MD PIA Aijaz Haroon while talking to media persons. He said the facility will create revenues worth $100 million and up to 5,000 highly technical jobs.

Ambassador Patterson pointed out that over $9 billion potential existed in the region’s aviation sector which should be shared by the PIA for becoming an economically viable airline.

Haroon said this joint initiative by the USTDA and PIA underscores the confidence and trust in PIA’s engineering capabilities to create a state-of-the-art MRO facility in the region.

Answering a question, he said that PIA’s five-year business plan is focused on turning its cost centres into revenue centres and the focus on customer service will greatly help the airline return to past glory and profitability.

Source (http://tribune.com.pk/story/42787/pia-gets-grant-of-rs58m-for-feasibility-study/)

I don't know why whenever there's news about PIA that stupid picture is attached, don't the newspapers have any other? It's not even the current livery.

LAHORE - A PIA’s Lahore-bound flight PK-734 met an accident at Charles de Gaulle International Airport Paris, when the aircraft went into the soft ground while taxiing, said sources in the airline on Wednesday. Though the accident of this PIA aircraft caused limited physical damage - just a damaged landing gear and a severe jerk to the passengers yet the operational damages could be more serious, said a senior PIA officer seeking anonymity.

PALPA, an association of the PIA pilots, has claimed that the accident took place only for the reason that pilot of the ill-fated aircraft Captain Junaid Abbasi was tired due to overwork.

As per details, the aircraft, a Boeing 777 LR, with over 400 passengers on board after landing at Paris early in the morning on August 25, was on the taxi track bound for the apron, when its right main landing gear wheels went into the adjacent ground area, badly damaging the landing gear structure. Reports revealed that the aircraft speed was slightly higher than recommended, and the pilot moved the aircraft to away from the centre line of the taxi way, which resulted in the main landing gears getting stuck in the soft ground. Passengers on board felt a severe jerk. The taxi track remained jammed because of the aircraft, causing disturbance to other traffic at the busy Paris airport. This Boeing 777 with registration AP-BHV was being flown by Capt Junaid Abbasi in command. The sources claimed that that the pilot had not taken proper rest before operating the flight and was under pressure to fly because of the undeclared go-slow policy of the pilots.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/hop9/b777_aug26.jpg

WTF is wrong with PIA pilots?

That is not good. Pilots should not be overworked, especially considering what happened in Islamabad.

Such minor incidents happen all the time in the aviation industry. The flight was helped by the technical facilities at CDG and continued its flight to Pak after an hour (contrary to the sever damage suggested in the article).

PIA pilots might be overloaded or not, can't say but it seems PALPA has just one answer to almost anything they are asked.

Pardon my french, but PIA is one fucked up entity full of political mostly PPP workers. I took a flight from London to Lahore and literally, A/C was not working and people were in their sweat shirts .. that day onwards, I never ever took PIA and always choose Qatar/Airblue for domestic etc... until couple of months ago I had to go Glasgow and onwards to US so i thought to take a direct flight to save me hassle .. imagine no TV for 8 hours flight and dry rice etc... and not to mention my return flight is from Glasgow to Lahore as well which I just found out that it was canceled without any reason. I planned it perfectly and was supposed to reach Lahore on Eid's second day but PIA ruined it again and now the flight they are giving is like 8-days after.


Imagine the height of my frustration !!


http://freeandflawed.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/fuuuuuuuuu.jpg

I've been hearing a lot of criticism about PIA. It's like the only direct flight that goes to Pakistan, I was hoping to take it next year but probably wont.

Funny enough, most people at airliners.net (the Mecca for airline pics and trip reports) all have positive reviews about PIA. Heck, even I have just one complain against them...the legroom sucks on the A310 that they operate. I hear its good on the 777.

And dry rice? Com'on man, even the die-hard haters of PIA do not criticize its food. I have flown AA (across the pond) with no IFE at all (broke down even before we got airborne). Yes, PIA can have cancellation problems at times (mostly on domestic though). Anyone who thinks PIA is bad should try US carriers.

Funny enough, most people at airliners.net (the Mecca for airline pics and trip reports) all have positive reviews about PIA. Heck, even I have just one complain against them...the legroom sucks on the A310 that they operate. I hear its good on the 777.

And dry rice? Com'on man, even the die-hard haters of PIA do not criticize its food. I have flown AA (across the pond) with no IFE at all (broke down even before we got airborne). Yes, PIA can have cancellation problems at times (mostly on domestic though). Anyone who thinks PIA is bad should try US carriers.

PIA has no redeeming qualities......NONE!

And the food does suck! They dont even have any Western food options. I dont think they realize that not everyones wants to eat oily, greasy Pakistani food during a long-haul flight.

PIA has no redeeming qualities......NONE!

And the food does suck! They dont even have any Western food options. I dont think they realize that not everyones wants to eat oily, greasy Pakistani food during a long-haul flight.

Amreekis should be banned from talking about airline qualities.

I don't think a minority should affect the choice of the majority and frankly speaking, most westerners I have seen enjoy it. Its not like they are giving you naan and nihari or paya. For the odd ones, there is always an option to order for special meals (in advance).

Even if you do not like PIA food, it certainly isn't amongst the worst in the industry. The same, however, cannot be said about its punctuality, legroom and IFE.

Amreekis should be banned from talking about airline qualities.

I don't think a minority should affect the choice of the majority and frankly speaking, most westerners I have seen enjoy it. Its not like they are giving you naan and nihari or paya. For the odd ones, there is always an option to order for special meals (in advance).

Even if you do not like PIA food, it certainly isn't amongst the worst in the industry. The same, however, cannot be said about its punctuality, legroom and IFE.

Do you see me defending American Airlines? I've never even been in one and couldnt care less about American Carriers. :sly:

And yes, I was served Nihari once and Naan another time so there!

Bloody French! >(

^^ when was that?

Of late, from personal experience and seeing various trip reports, these seems to be the PIA snacks/lunch/dinner tray.

On AMS-IST route
http://a.imageshack.us/img243/6057/dscf7254.jpg

special meal
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii60/ouweland-akhmad/PK%20AMS%20IST/IMG_9883.jpg

breakfast
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/flymajj/2007_03_09%20ISB%20BKK%20HKG/IMG_3574.jpg

http://www.samchuiphotos.com/PIA74M/IMG_6279.jpg

Funny enough, most people at airliners.net (the Mecca for airline pics and trip reports) all have positive reviews about PIA. Heck, even I have just one complain against them...the legroom sucks on the A310 that they operate. I hear its good on the 777.

And dry rice? Com'on man, even the die-hard haters of PIA do not criticize its food. I have flown AA (across the pond) with no IFE at all (broke down even before we got airborne). Yes, PIA can have cancellation problems at times (mostly on domestic though). Anyone who thinks PIA is bad should try US carriers.

Seriously the food is that bad. I'm not lying.

I have flown almost all US carriers and middle east airlines and in EU British Airway, YES ! they suck badly in services, they charge for even shitting in the plane (kidding) but PIA is totally not cool .. but some of airlines are good such as if you try Muslim food on long haul flights (from IAD to London) on United .. You would love it .. or take Qatar/Etihad/Emirates etc..

US Airways is also good. Took that till Florida and service was okay.

Dude , you are originating from AMS .. i guess that's why your food seems okay ..

^^ when was that?

Of late, from personal experience and seeing various trip reports, these seems to be the PIA snacks/lunch/dinner tray.

On AMS-IST route



Here is my food , not PIA but others recently i took, I'll post my PIA pictures next month end ...

British Airways (Vegetarian Meal)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs166.snc4/37659_10150232376290224_869140223_13794549_29418_n.jpg

United Airways (Meal - Muslim Meal)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs096.ash2/38160_10150233483935224_869140223_13833042_5248535_n.jpg

United Airways (Snack - Muslim Meal)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs196.snc4/38160_10150233483940224_869140223_13833043_7785651_n.jpg

and this is old when i was visiting Kuwait via Bahrain .. flight was from Gulf Air i believe:

http://imgur.com/ULqU9.jpg

pakistani food is edible but not presentable and western food is presentable but not edible....sure boiled veggies and grilled meat look good but dam it i need flavore..bring on that sloppy nihari and oily biryani...lol;)

more pics of PIA accident at CDG recently

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/hop9/PICT0849.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/hop9/PICT0854.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/hop9/PICT0856.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/hop9/PICT0857.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/hop9/PICT0858.jpg

OMG TYRES ON GRASS! NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!!!!! :shocked:

THE HORROR! THE AGONY!


:sleepy:


Bloody French! Dramaqueens!

OMG TYRES ON GRASS! NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!!!!! :shocked:

THE HORROR! THE AGONY!


:sleepy:


Bloody French! Dramaqueens!

Shows your lack of aviation knowledge.

It was lucky that nothing happened but "tyres on grass" can cause damage to the landing gear and not to talk about the possibility of sucking something into the engines.

As tough as an airplane looks like, it is quite delicate in certain areas.

OMG! Somebody call the ambalamps! Theres a tyre on the grass!


*runs for cover from the lethal blades of grass*


:laugh:

OMG! Somebody call the ambalamps! Theres a tyre on the grass!


*runs for cover from the lethal blades of grass*


:laugh:

:rofl: How do you keep up with internet memes like 'ambalamps' when you never visit the funny pics thread in the international skybar?:lol:

:rofl: How do you keep up with internet memes like 'ambalamps' when you never visit the funny pics thread in the international skybar?:lol:

:colgate:

Old but hilarious news

http://piac.com.pk/Downloads/CNN-PIA.html

baby sitting duties :lol:

^^ what is this? i didn't get

PIA at Schiphol (http://www.schipholtv.com/2010/09/16/airline-portret-pakistan-international-airlines/)

Amazing shot of pia
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x468/herogherobahi/sky/ioioio.jpg

photoshoped....

Probably not, there are swarms of eagles at various points of Karachi.

photoshoped....

bro it's not photoshoped i got this from express news paper :)

NEW YORK: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has signed deal to sell its routes to US and Europe, apparently due to shortage of airplanes, Geo News reported.

Sources were of the view that as per agreement, PIA airbuses, on all incoming and outgoing routes, will fly as far as Turkey, from where, Turkish airplanes will fly till US and Europe with PIA passengers on board.

The deal will be effective from March 2011 while the agreement will be made public within some weeks.

Sources also said that new PIA flights will be started for Houston, US, in order to send people message that PIA is still in operation on US routes.

PIA airbuses being used for US routes now, will then be operated on routes to Beijing and Sydney, sources claimed.

Even PIA’s MD Captain Haroon flew on Turkish airline for US journey, sources claimed further.

Why wouldnt i be surprised if PIA ends up making more losses than we are currently? Given that all the aircrafts will remain in service as would the army of jiyalas attached to them.

And whoever thought Sydney would have more traffic than EU and US cities? IIRC, we also have freedom rights via Barcelona to ORD.

Why wouldnt i be surprised if PIA ends up making more losses than we are currently? Given that all the aircrafts will remain in service as would the army of jiyalas attached to them.

And whoever thought Sydney would have more traffic than EU and US cities? IIRC, we also have freedom rights via Barcelona to ORD.

Agreed. This is bad decision ... I don't think traffic from LHR/KHI to Sydney would be huge .. yes there would be traffic but not that huge unless they start stopping over in Singapore or Malaysia etc...

^^Thats why PIA suffered Rs. 70 billion loss last year....

Why wouldnt i be surprised if PIA ends up making more losses than we are currently? Given that all the aircrafts will remain in service as would the army of jiyalas attached to them.

And whoever thought Sydney would have more traffic than EU and US cities? IIRC, we also have freedom rights via Barcelona to ORD.
So the rumor I heard about it was right. Also heard that we're starting flights to Athens coz some relative of someone lives there. Also, PIA doesn't fly airbuses to the US, they're all B777's.

All Turkish passenger flying East will go through Karachi on PIA... including Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo... I think its not a bad deal at all

PIA is to provide daily link to over 100 international destinations from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad under a joint venture commercial arrangement with Turkish Airlines, PIA Spokesman said here on Thursday.

The Pakistani passengers have been demanding that PIA should provide daily flights to all presently operated international destinations and also link other major cities of the world with Pakistan. This is not possible because of the limitations of fleet and insufficient traffic for operating daily flights.

PIA has therefore, in the interest of Pakistani passengers, evaluated the possibility of providing daily flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad each to about 100 international destinations under a joint venture commercial arrangement with Turkish Airlines; which has a large fleet of 151 passenger aircraft and plans to increase its fleet up to 200 aircraft by the end of 2011. Turkish Airlines has five dedicated freighter planes and 6th plane is on order.

It has been a member of the prestigious Star Alliance network since April 1, 2008. The airline serves 167 destinations (128 international and 39 domestic).

He further said that the News appearing in a section of media are ill founded and not based on facts. PIA will continue operating to USA, UK, France, Norway, Denmark and some of the remaining European destinations. However, minor adjustments in frequencies will be required to make the joint venture operation economically viable for PIA.

This, he said may result in reducing international destinations served by PIA by 2-3. However, to ensure that PIA passengers are well looked after and have the same homely feeling, it has been decided that PIA Cabin Crew will be on board Turkish Airlines flights under code share arrangements to many destinations being served by PIA. The passengers will also be provided Pakistani Newspapers, food and in-flight entertainment to their tastes.

The Spokesman further added that this arrangement is agreed in principle but its implementation is subject to approvals of regulatory authorities and the Board of Directors' and shall be implemented only after finalisation of detailed agreement and integration of I.T systems. Through this arrangement PIA will be able to offer daily connectivity to the world, which would be better than the services/frequencies offered by the Mega Carriers of Gulf region. Istanbul is a tourist city and Pakistani passengers would be offered special tour packages in case they plan to take an en route stop over. It may be noted here that all passengers travelling with onward visa can acquire entry visa on arrival at Istanbul. This facility is not available at any other en route point.


Source: http://www.brecorder.com/news/business-and-economy/pakistan/1141071:pia-to-provide-daily-link-to-over-100-destinations-with-turkish-airlines.html

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5332740022_4610936a29_b.jpg

Muzaffar Rizvi
7 January 2011
DUBAI — Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plans to set up its first regional hub in Turkey to expand its worldwide network to compete with Gulf-based carriers, its top official said on Thursday.
Pakistan’s national flag carrier recently signed an agreement with Turkish Airlines to offer a wide range of facilities to one-stop passengers bound for Europe and the United States.

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkish Airlines to expand our network to more than 130 destinations worldwide,” Captain Mohammad Aijaz Haroon, Managing Director of PIA told Khaleej Times in a telephonic interview from Karachi.

He said the agreement is subject to approval from the two governments and will be implemented by the end of March. “We will expand our network and introduce new destinations with the help of Turkish Airlines in summer schedule by March,” he said.

Analysts said the deal is expected to boost seat factor of PIA, which is estimated at 76 per cent during 2010 despite the difficult times in the wake of global financial crisis.

In reply to a question, Capt Haroon said Gulf-based carriers are also interested in having a similar deal with PIA, but Turkish Airlines offers better options. “We get the Turkish Airlines business for its East-bound passengers and the Gulf airlines will never offer those kind of benefits to us,” he said.

Capt Haroon, who assumed the charge of PIA Managing Director in May 2008, said Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and other Middle East airlines have also shown their interest to expand cooperation with PIA. “Etihad Airways delegation is soon coming to Pakistan to discuss similar kind of deal,” he said.

Dispelling the impression that PIA will no more fly to Europe and the US after the deal, Capt Haroon said PIA will continue its direct flights to Europe, the US and other key destinations in the West.

“Turkish Airlines will only take New York and Chicago routes from PIA and we will continue to operate our direct flights to other US cities, all over the United Kingdom, France, Oslo and other destinations,” he explained.

Capt Haroon, who has over 30 years of airline experience, said MoU signed recently is more than a code-sharing deal between the two airlines.

“PIA passengers now will have access to more than 130 destinations through Istanbul hub and they can avail even daily service for more than 100 destinations in Europe, the US and South America.”

He said the deal is a win-win situation for both the airlines as PIA will take the Turkish Airlines passengers bound for the destinations in East.

“Karachi will be Turkish Airlines hub and we will accommodate their passengers for Colombo, Dhaka and other destinations in the East,” Capt Haroon said.

In reply to a question, Capt Haroon said there will be 21 weekly flights between Karachi and Istanbul to transit passengers of the two airlines. “Out of these 21 flights, PIA will operate 14 while the rest seven by Turkish Airlines,” he said.

He said the alliance with Turkish Airlines will directly affect the Gulf-based airlines as PIA passengers bound for remote destinations in the West will use the Istanbul hub rather than changing airlines in Dubai.

“Its an important deal that will expand our network in Europe and the US. We cannot think of building that kind of network for our passengers even in the next five years due to our limited resources and recession in the aviation industry,” he said.

The airline earned an operating profit of Rs3 billion during 2009 and its revenues rose to Rs80 billion. The national flag carrier is expecting up to 25 per cent growth in revenues to cross Rs100 billion mark in 2010.

“We will soon introduce new destinations or increase more flights in the East to expand our network mainly to compete the Gulf airlines,” Capt Haroon concluded.

muzaffarrizvi@khaleejtimes.com

^^
So that means no more PIA flights to Newyork and Chicago....thats awful

^^
which other US cities is he talking about? PIA only operates to NY and Chicago and they will be taken over by Turkish...Whats left behind then?

Thinking of starting Houston. Sounds like a good deal, but PIA should also operate flights out of Istanbul.

PIA shuts Glasgow route and signs deal with Turkish Airlines

Posted Monday, 10 January, 2011 - 15:34 by Gary NoakesGlasgow will lose its direct air link with Pakistan later this month following a shake-up by Pakistan International Airlines ahead of its proposed new partnership with Turkish Airlines.

PIA closes its twice weekly Glasgow-Lahore route on January 22 following an appraisal of its loss-making operations in Europe which could see it pull out completely from some countries. PIA’s decision to axe Glasgow is linked with competition from Emirates, which operates daily from Glasgow to Dubai with onward connections to Pakistan.

Speaking from PIA’s base in Karachi, spokesman Mamoon Rashid said flights from Pakistan to Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds/Bradford were profitable and could be expanded. PIA will also continue with its Manchester-New York route

"In the UK there are no other closures apart from Glasgow,” he said. “Glasgow did not meet its operating costs, we tried to linger for a year, but it did not improve.”

He said expansion of existing routes to the UK was likely once PIA had finalized a code-sharing arrangement with Turkish Airlines. Under the deal, due to be concluded at the end of the month, the two airlines will operate from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to Istanbul, feeding Turkish Airlines’ transcontinental services, such as those to the US.

PIA has been forced into this agreement because it has seen a huge part of its business lost to Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. PIA’s own figures reveal that 81 per cent of Pakistan’s international traffic currently travels in this way.

Rashid said any expansion on UK routes would be in time for the summer timetable, which starts at the end of March.

“We’re still in negotiations with Turkish. It is not yet finalized, but we will be able to take aircraft from any routes that we close and put them into the UK,” he said.

He added that direct routes from Pakistan to Paris, Oslo and Copenhagen were likely to be spared.

It wouldn't be a bad deal if PIA takes Turkish passengers going east of here.

It wouldn't be a bad deal if PIA takes Turkish passengers going east of here.
Australia is the only Eastern destination not served by Turkish. The rest of East is better served by Turkish than PIA. But it's not like PIA had any other option, we can't restrict slots for ME airlines.

Alliance with Turkish Airlines may act as a step for PIA towards becoming member of Star Alliance, the largest airline grouping in the world, PIA spokesman said. In a statement issued Tuesday, the spokesman termed the recent statements by leaders of the employees associations of PIA published in the newspapers as misleading.

According to the spokesperson, these associations are giving statements without understanding the actual facts of the record of discussion between the two airlines.

In fact there has been no agreement but a record of discussion between PIA and Turkish Airline. Agreement will only be reached after the relevant authorities of both the countries validate the same. It was because of the unequivocal statements by representatives of the employees associations that MD PIA calls all their leaders for a briefing on the merits of the proposed commercial agreement.

Managing Director PIA Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon gave a detailed briefing to the representatives of associations and provided elaborate details to remove their fears about the expected PIA-Turkish Joint Venture. Both sides discussed the issues in detail and it was mutually decided that the representatives would be provided with details about the joint venture. The said meeting was mutually agreed to be held for the next week. He said the basic purpose was to brief the associations and not to do any bargaining and therefore there is nothing like inconclusive meeting as spelled out in the media. He further said that the assumptions behind this joint venture are based on facts and marketing intelligence data from the most reliable tool (MIDT) being used by airlines all over the world.

He informed that the leaders of employees association had categorically stated that they would not go to the press till next meeting scheduled for 18th January 2011. It is a pity that despite briefing them on every aspect of the proposed alliance and addressing all their concerns, yet they repeated the same concocted stories which are far from facts. He said that PIA’s revenues will not be affected by this agreement rather it will be enhanced as according to this alliance, PIA will be selling on the destinations in Africa, South America, Europe and USA where PIA is not operating. It is also worth mentioning that PIA offices at all current destinations will not only be maintained but offices at additional stations will be opened to provide seamless services to PIA Passengers. It is also worth mentioning that due to limited fleet size, PIA provides air transport only up to 40 international destinations. However, this Joint Venture Commercial Alliance with Turkish Airlines, PIA will be able to access new destinations across the globe as Turkish Airlines serves 167 destinations including 128 international. It is also a member of the prestigious Star Alliance network since 1st April 2008.

He elaborated that under the proposed agreement PIA would operate daily flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad up to Istanbul and onward to over 128 international destinations under a code share arrangement with Turkish Airlines. PIA will continue operating to USA, UK, France, Norway, Denmark and other European stations directly. Similarly, Turkish Airlines while discontinuing their flights to Dhaka will transfer its passengers to PIA for Dhaka (DAC), Colombo (CMB) and Kathmandu (KTM) and other Eastern destinations. This collaboration would result in some adjustments in network by PK and TK. He also stated that through this arrangement, PIA would be able to offer daily connectivity to the world. Istanbul is a tourist city and Pakistani passengers would be offered special tour packages in case they plan to take an en-route stop over.

http://express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE/20110113/Sub_Images/1101143714-1.jpg

Not bad for two people, but if they had any sense they should've added stadium tickets too.

Not bad for two people, but if they had any sense they should've added stadium tickets too.

I think u got it wrong, Rs. 110000 is for one person, room in the hotel will be for two(i.e. 2 people will share the room)....

Then it's expensive.

Pakistan International Airline (PIA)'s first flight for Iranian city Zahidan will take off from here today (Saturday). The inaugural ceremony in this connection is being held at CIP lounge, PIA on the same day, which will be attended by the Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan and relevant senior Pakistani officials.

Talking to APP here on Friday, District Manager PIA, Hakim Shah Kakar said that PIA would operate twice weekly flights every Wednesday and Saturday to Zahidan from Karachi and Quetta. He noted that the flight fulfilled the long-standing demand of people from both countries.

He further said that PIA is striving hard to increase revenue, adding that the airline has improved its market share by enhancing frequencies on routes like Dubai, Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur. "It is a positive beginning towards the destination of PIA, he said and added it would be conducive to the traders and businessmen community to save their time besides boosting their business by using the facility being provided by the PIA.


Source: http://www.brecorder.com/news/business-and-economy/pakistan/1143846:pia-s-first-flight-to-zahidan-today.html

Agreed. This is bad decision ... I don't think traffic from LHR/KHI to Sydney would be huge .. yes there would be traffic but not that huge unless they start stopping over in Singapore or Malaysia etc...

This is what you get when "leaders" run govt not as patriots of the country but as a badmash running a unit.

Things like PCB, PIA should be run through public boards that get minimum interference from the govt.

This is what you get when "leaders" run govt not as patriots of the country but as a badmash running a unit.

Things like PCB, PIA should be run through public boards that get minimum interference from the govt.

I second that

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/7599/imag0839oq4.jpg

Employees at Pakistan’s state-owned airline have gone on strike in protest at a proposed route-sharing agreement with Turkish Airlines.

Pakistan International Airlines spokesman Mashhood Tajwar says the action on Monday involved a small group of pilots and support staff and that it led to the cancelation of two international and four domestic flights.

PIA has posted multimillion dollar losses for the past five years Airline bosses have said they are considering sharing some routes with Turkish Airlines to try and increase profitability.

Some of its some 20,000 employees fear this will lead to job or pay cuts.

Strike organizers were not available for comment.

I saw their leader on some news channel saying k PIA Managing Director should resign immediately for the better future of PIA...

wtf..y they dont resign first?? dont they see 200+ extra employees per aircraft in PIA?? y they dont resign for the better future of PIA??

I saw their leader on some news channel saying k PIA Managing Director should resign immediately for the better future of PIA...

wtf..y they dont resign first?? dont they see 200+ extra employees per aircraft in PIA?? y they dont resign for the better future of PIA??

PIA MD Ijaz Haroon is a close friend of Asif Zardari, thats why. Some people were even saying that he sometimes sleeps in the President House...

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suffered an estimated loss of Rs810 million in three days due to strike of the workers, Geo News reported on Friday.

It may be mentioned here that PIA has shown a loss of Rs11.69 billion from January to December 2010.

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af117/Ahmadrashid/1101167131-1.jpg

PIA MD Ijaz Haroon is a close friend of Asif Zardari, thats why. Some people were even saying that he sometimes sleeps in the President House...
like 80% of PIA employees got jobs coz of PPP so WTF are they complaining about.

Finally, MD PIA resigns...

What a circus.

^^It won't make any difference, they should re-structure PIA....

Have they broken the deal with Turkish Airlines or something?

Have they broken the deal with Turkish Airlines or something?

Deal is still there but they are denying it...

Mistress In The Sky


Poor PIA. Abused and exploited repeatedly by government after government. Its greatest sin has been its birth in the public sector, where mismanagement, corruption and nepotism are but three of the many terminal diseases that stalk all ventures born here. PIA has barely survived years and years of all this and today is a pale shadow of what it used to be. It was the toast of other airlines. Now it’s just stale bread that only scavengers are interested in of which there is never any shortage here. Like vultures hovering over a kill, they bite and tear off the little bits of flesh still left. Before long there will be just bones.

In a brilliant and scathing piece two years ago, columnist Mosharraf Zaidi, exposed the ills that plague the airline. Things today are worse than they were then – and they were pretty grim even then. He had said at the time, that PIA primarily existed to ‘provide gainful employment to thousands of utterly incompetent political sycophants...because the sycophant got his job in spite of the customer (not because of her). That is why, at PIA, the customer always comes last.’ Well the sycophants still rule the roost.

The current lot has restored thousands who had earlier been thrown out, back to milking the good cow. A good measure that would have trimmed spiralling costs somewhat has been neatly chucked aside like a bone. Votes and brownie points have been the rationale, not efficiency. It was the same in 2007 when 8,000 jiyalas laid off after termination of their jobs in 1996, were restored with great fanfare to further dig PIA’s grave deeper. Dare one add that it has almost always been the same? And always will.

Those who have bankrupted the airline without shame have been its most vocal supporters in public as per their double-faced sleazy lives. Their ham-handed policies would have brought down Microsoft. PIA was always easy pickings. People like the late President Leghari, the damp and thoroughly corrupt squid Shaukat Aziz and his publicity hungry messiah, the lecture-circuit president, Commando 1, the slithering Chaudhrys of Gujrat where travellers were warned to look after their shoes as these could be stolen in a jiffy, BB and before her the Mians, the current prime minister and his president – not to mention the armies of brass-encased officers, slimy bureaucrats, shady ministers, inefficient advisers and dozens of other ‘notable’ nobodies – all who have used PIA as one would while strolling on the sleazy side street of a European flesh pot.

The great tragedy is that not only has the national airline been crippled and broken beyond repair but its vast network of mismanagement and its humongous losses have all been accrued at our expense – the idiots amongst us who pay taxes. Zaidi said in 2009 that the 2007 PIA Annual Report listed 18,231 employees and a loss of Rs38.5 billion! Thus in 2007 each PIA employee lost more than Rs2.16 million!

Currently things are worse. At the end of the third quarter, September 30th 2010, PIA’s losses stood at – here goes, Rs11, 693, 422. Wait, you still have to add three zeroes to that figure! What it all adds up to, I haven’t the foggiest notion? My Greek was never my strong suite. This monumental loss is higher than what was recorded a year earlier. How much further the losses have gone up since September is anybody’s guess. Government’s solution is to remove one (now discovered) incompetent MD with another old boy from Petaro. (How big was that class Rehman Malik Sahib please tell us?). Of the new gent, other than making the usual speeches about restoring the glory that was PIA, there is nothing much else to report. There are however some hairy stories including his taking over a PIA flight (boys will be boys) whilst heading the Civil Aviation. I just hope it is not true because it is the stuff of nightmares.

Changing MDs is hardly the solution. You have to change the whole rotten structure, ruthlessly and without mercy. That we all know will not happen in a decade of Sundays, sorry Fridays. And as PIA destinations shrink and as myopic, self serving ad hoc thinking calls the shots with a monolithic Ministry of Defence presiding over the funeral pyre and stroking it with generous dabs of gasoline, many Pakistanis feel sad because to them PIA is not an airline – it is their airline, their identity and their being.

I think most of us understand the monumental problems PIA is buffeted with, it can do little but what has happened to the small things that don’t involve buying new aircraft – PIA has just 40, that don’t require a Board Meeting or an MOD clearance? Things that define us, make us different have also fallen by the wayside. It is these things that hurt us because unlike PIA’s mega problems these have solutions.

I am known to exaggerate but I can swear that in the last so many years, the menu has never changed. There is a bun with a pat of butter (why?), a salad that could easily carry the skulls and bones logo, a very watery raita and then the dish that would make Gordon Ramsey jealous, chicken or mutton biryani – take your pick you lucky travellers. I have eaten it so many times mostly out of sheer hunger and because it is hot, but culinary delight it is not. There is always a ‘sweet’ which is best avoided. This in a land of culinary traditions! Is this the best we can do? Apparently there is an alternative dish but that must be a closely guarded secret. Never seen it or smelt it. The snack is eternal. Two dry sandwiches, one with cheese one without. What are the Catering Department magicians up to? Surely without asking the government, the cuisine can be improved?

Why are the bathrooms unusable? On a recent flight to Dubai, the bathroom had been sealed off and there was an unbearable stench of urine, compounded further by generous sprays of Rose Perfume. Apparently the 777 flight had arrived from Paris with the stink and then took us to Dubai while passengers held their noses and cursed PIA. Cabin crew on other airlines regularly cleans the bathrooms. Ours never venture inside. That is somewhat understandable because after a Paki uses a public loo, no one else can. But there are gloves and face masks and that can save crews from asphyxiation but you cannot dump a dirty loo on a long journey to revenue enhancing passengers. The colognes are long gone – apparently people steal them. Well find a way that they cannot.

And in-flight entertainment is everything except entertainment. Some ancient, washed out, dead boring serial of Paki vintage is hurled at shell-shocked passengers. Is this the best on offer? There is a department that supposedly jets all over the world scouting for new entertainment. Who are they and what is on the menu? A documentary on Pakistan would be a divine gift. And how can people watch the crap if headphones are either never distributed or done half way through? As for music on the channels and on board, the less said the better.

These are some small measures – there are many more that can easily be undertaken. There are some good people in PIA and they must be given some opportunity to make changes in spite of the gloomy looks that PIA staff wears. PIA should be rescued from the clutches of the MOD and the awful public sector – that’s perhaps the only way to save it. If not, it should be closed down. The good lord never said, ‘thou must have an airline’.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=38422&Cat=9

Bun with butter - you're served that on pretty much every single airline.

Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar Friday informed the Upper House of the Parliament a restructuring plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was being finalised aimed at improving its efficiency and making the organisation a profit-earning entity.

During the question-hour session, responding to a supplementary question he said, “We are planning restructuring of the whole organisation in consultation with professionals. We will definitely come out with the programme within next 15 to 20 days.” He said things were moving in the right direction and assured the House all parliamentarians would appreciate our new restructuring plan. Mukhtar said 2077 appointments had been made in PIA during last three years on regular and contract basis, while the number of daily wagers was 149. Whereas around 989 appointments had been made in Airport Security Force, he added.

He said the postings in departments of PIA were done as per the approved and sanctioned Human Resource Budget, which was maintained individually for each department and according to the operational requirement.

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is going into expansion and is in the process of getting additional aircraft and discussions are underway with the PIA board of directors and the government.

PIA Managing Director Nadeem Khan Yousufzai at the 54th annual general meeting said the year 2010 proved to be a challenging year, while the global economy was gradually moving out of recession, the aviation industry has still not been able to fully recover from the crisis that engulfed it in the wake of the oil price hike. He said with the recent events in the Middle East, oil prices have again started to climb, which are affecting the aviation industry to return to profitability. PIA is also affected by the oil prices coupled with inflation in the country and it does not get any subsidy from the government on oil purchase.

The airline has also implemented web ticketing for the convenience of the passengers and this would result in savings for the airline. He said PIA was now focusing on revenue increase, network expansion and savings.

Yousufzai said PIA has already submitted its business plan to the government based on the financial projections. The airline was expected to start earning profits provided the business plan was approved and significant financial support was provided to the corporation.

AGM President and PIA Board Member Husain Lawai informed the shareholders during the year 2010 the airline achieved the highest revenue in excess of Rs 107.532 billion as compared to Rs 95.564 billion in 2009, with a revenue growth of 12.52 percent.

The airline also registered an increase in seat factor from 70 percent in 2009 to 74 percent in 2010 and achieved an operating profit of Rs 720 million. With the world gross domestic product (GDP) forecast to rise by 3.1 percent during 2011, it is expected that demand for air travel (both passenger and cargo segments) would increase by 5.6 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively in the year 2011.

He said the airline achieved an operating profit of Rs 720 million. However, the overall financial position of the airline was mainly affected by the fuel prices from Rs 149.39 per US gallon in 2009 to Rs 194.57 per US gallon in 2010.

Fuel cost constitutes 42 percent of the total airline operating cost. The yearly basket of crude oil price increased to $77.45 per barrel in 2010 from $61.06 per barrel in 2009, showing an increase of almost 27 percent.

PIA will have to link oil prices with fuel surcharge as oil prices are beyond the control of the airline, he said.

The operating expenses other than fuel decreased by 3.88 percent over last year. This was due to the decrease in exchange loss by Rs 4,409 million over last year due to stable exchange rate in 2010 as compared to the devaluation of 6.71 percent rupee against the dollar in 2009.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its Safari flight service from Islamabad to the country’s northern areas after a hiatus of 6 years.

PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar told Express 24/7 that Safari flights will fly from Islamabad to Karakoram, K2 and other northern areas.

The spokesman said that these were not non-commercial flights, adding that earlier only foreigners had chartered these flights since the charges were high.
He added that a decline in foreign customers had compelled PIA to halt these flights 6 years back.

Tajwar said that the safari flights were being resumed owing to an increase in the influx of foreigners.

He added that the safari flights were earlier being run fortnightly by the new schedule has yet to be decided.


Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/177716/pia-resumes-safari-flight-service-after-6-years/

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its Safari flight service from Islamabad to the country’s northern areas after a hiatus of 6 years.

PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar told Express 24/7 that Safari flights will fly from Islamabad to Karakoram, K2 and other northern areas.

The spokesman said that these were not non-commercial flights, adding that earlier only foreigners had chartered these flights since the charges were high.
He added that a decline in foreign customers had compelled PIA to halt these flights 6 years back.

Tajwar said that the safari flights were being resumed owing to an increase in the influx of foreigners.

He added that the safari flights were earlier being run fortnightly by the new schedule has yet to be decided.


Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/177716/pia-resumes-safari-flight-service-after-6-years/

I didn't know more tourists were coming to Pakistan. Is it true?

PIA flight operation for Madina commenced Friday. PIA Flight PK 743 departed from Karachi carrying over 200 passengers.

Managing Director PIA, Nadeem Khan Yousufzai at the occasion said he was thankful to the Saudi government authorities, President Asif Ali Zardari, Minister of Defense and Chairman PIA, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Secretary Defense, General (retd) Athar Ali and DG Civil Aviation Authority Pakistan and PIA officials for making this flight a reality.

PIA now operates twice weekly flights from Karachi to Madina every Friday and Monday with convenient timings. One flight gives the people of Multan a direct connection to Karachi and then onwards to Madina.

With the commencement of twice a week fights to Madina PIA now operates to 40 international destinations and 23 destinations domestically.

He said PIA planned to increase its network to more destinations in the future. PIA has submitted a five year business plan to the government and part of it is the airline’s request for government’s support to PIA for acquiring new aircraft to meet the potential demand of passengers.

He said the airline has established PIA Foundation where more people would avail employment opportunities. The projects already implemented under PIA foundation include Industrial Home and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Flight Academy while another project to be started soon includes Utility Stores facility for PIA employees.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/301519_125434437553360_125411390888998_149506_351796_n.jpg

PIA blues: Is the flag carrier heading for a crash?

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/265670-aeroplan-1317586780-328-640x480.jpg
Technical glitches have led to a series of emergency landings recently; safety hazards pose a second ban for the carrier’s aircraft from EU.

It was just another flight, bringing pilgrims back to Lahore from Jeddah on August 30. The cabin crew walked along the aisle, attending to passengers, many of whom sat comfortably without their seatbelts.

Suddenly, about 45 minutes prior to the plane’s scheduled landing, the aircraft jolted, and descended in a free-fall, dangerously plummeting from 30,000 to 16,000 feet within minutes. The passengers panicked, as they were hurled towards the aircraft’s roof, and the cabin crew struggled to stay on their feet. The aircraft had accidentally ventured into an air pocket, a turbulent movement of air mass.

Much to the passenger’s relief, the airplane managed to exit the air pocket after a while, and became stable again and the crew administered first-aid to injured passengers.

When the plane landed safely, jittery passengers exited at the Lahore airport, glad to be alive.

PIA described the incident as an “unavoidable circumstance,” since a plane’s radar system cannot detect air pockets. But while flight PK7322 was struck by forces of nature, several other PIA flights have experienced fiascos caused by human errors.

Delays in domestic and international flights are a routine for PIA, and bad weather or stray birds at runways cannot be held responsible for all of them. Besides, recent technical shortcomings in aircraft, which have caused a series of emergency or ‘technical’ landings, were hardly inevitable occurrences.

Glitches galore
French aviation authorities sent a letter, dated August 23, to their Pakistani counterpart, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), requesting them to submit a report over the failure of PIA’s Airbus A-310 plane to adhere to international safety regulations. The letter cited 40 unattended defects in the aircraft, detected by safety assessment of foreign aircraft programme inspectors. This is the second time the airline’s A-310 aircraft face a possible ban from the European Union. In March 2007, the EU imposed a ban on most of PIA’s fleet due to safety concerns, but subsequently lifted it in November 2007. A retired flight captain, who worked at the airline for 29 years, strongly criticised PIA’s engineers and technicians for grossly violating safety benchmarks.

“The EU knows how PIA engineers try to hoodwink them,” he said, on the condition of anonymity. “They need to stop circumventing regulations and attend to the fleet’s technical problems instead of making temporary, makeshift repairs.”

CAA’s spokesperson Pervez George says that recent irregularities in PIA’s fleet – particularly those pinpointed by the French aviation authorities – are being taken seriously and are under investigation by the organisation.

A reliable source in the airline added that technical issues in planes are aggravated by the absence of spare planes in the fleet. “There is very little ground time that engineers get to do maintenance work on aircraft because the planes are all scheduled to fly.”

‘Technical’ landings
A possible ban is not the only concern for PIA. An embarrassing string of technical shortcomings has recently plagued PIA flights including the September 27, Islamabad-Karachi flight PK-369, which made an emergency landing at Multan Airport due to a malfunctioning generator, and a UAE-bound flight PK-255, which took off from Peshawar, but had to land in Karachi due to the same issue, merely 24 hours after the first incident.

A flight from Sialkot to Jeddah, PK-745, carrying 480 passengers had to make an emergency landing in Karachi on August 6, after its landing gear failed to retract after takeoff.

On September 2, two smaller aircraft – PK-501 carrying 21 passengers from Karachi to Turbat and PK-508 with 32 passengers heading from Panjgur to Karachi – had to make ‘technical landings’ after engine failures.

PIA spokesperson Mashood Tajwar is quick to disregard the notion that these technical issues could have had perilous implications.

“We have not experienced any major problem with our fleet,” he says. “It’s routine for machines to experience minor technical problems and these don’t impact the performance of the aircraft.”

He adds that the airline is investigating the technical shortfalls in their aircraft.

PIA B777-300ER at Paris :

http://i48.servimg.com/u/f48/11/28/71/03/p1040211.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=1317&u=11287103)

Faryal Talpur-owned Indus Air to replace PIA

By Ali Hussain - Nov 10th, 2011 (69 Comments)

http://www.thenewstribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/PIA1.jpg
KARACHI: There is not a single day without any news about Pakistan International Airline, but not for any good reason rather all about its ailing financial health, poor performance, flights delay, emergency landings and etc. But there are some latest and stunning revelations that the ailing national flag carrier is being pushed to dead-end deliberately just to pave the way for a new private airline reportedly owned by a close relative of the President House’s inhabitant.

Though the state-owned airline’s financial health was not good before the incumbent dispensation, but during the tenure of this government it moved from bad to worst despite the repeated and consistent calls from all the quarter for restructuring and overhauling of the airline to restore its past glory.

As the airline is fast nearing toward collapse, there are startling reports that a private airline reportedly owned by a close relative of holder of top constitutional office of the country is being launched, which will replace the national flag carrier.

Reliable sources in the airline industry told The News Tribe that the national flag carrier was being deliberately pushed toward collapse so that the way could be paved for the new airline.

They claimed the new airline, Indus Air, is owned by Faryal Talpur MNA, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, They further said that the news of PIA planes’ crash landings, technical faults and flights delays were being propagated purposefully on daily basis and despite repeated call no step had been taken for complete overhaul of the airline so that the PIA could be declared bankrupt and unfeasible entity. Despite repeated attempts the News Tribe cold not reached out to Faryal Talpur for her version about the issue.

The Indus Air reportedly owned by Mrs Faryal Talpur is a company registered in Bahamas and will become operative very soon, they sources confided to The News Tribe.

The sources said that the airline will be run by former Managing Director PIA Ijaz Haroon, who was removed as MD PIA after prolong strike and protest by PIA employees and pilots.

The website of the Indus Air says that the airline will be launched soon. According to the site, which displays the routes of the airline through map, the airline will run its flights to almost all domestic stations in Pakistan to which the PIA currently operates flights. The airline will operative flight on almost all domestic routes, besides major international routes.

Interesting, the domestic routes of the airline include those on which no private airline currently runs flight and as per PIA management, these routes are financially unviable such as flight from Peshawar to Chitral and Rawalpindi to Gilgit and Skardu.

According to an earlier news report carried out by The News Tribe, Pakistan International Airline (PIA) Managing Director Nadeem Yousufzai had said that the management of the airline was trying to overcome $130 million losses currently the airline was faced with.

http://www.thenewstribe.com/2011/11/10/faryal-talpur-owned-indus-air-to-replace-pia/#.TsICzsPTr_L

^^ please restrict to posting only authentic news, not every piece of cr**.

wow that's good news at least this time they are investing money in PK... they could have sold the PIA and just put the money in Swiss banks who could have stopped them?

This has been circling around for a while now, even though the mainstream media has given it no coverage.

^^ please restrict to posting only authentic news, not every piece of cr**.

this is authentic.

^^ please restrict to posting only authentic news, not every piece of cr**.

many of my relatives works @ PIA, PIA has increased fares of domestic flights so that people would consider INdus airline as alternative to PIA for domestic flights bcoz no other airline have domestic flight routes like PIA.

A friend of mine was saying more than a year ago that there is a conspiracy afoot by Zardari and Talpur to destroy PIA and start their own airline, Indus Air. If the govt. really wanted, they can easily improve PIA services and get back in the black.

http://jang.com.pk/jang/dec2011-daily/21-12-2011/updates/12-21-2011_90819_1.gif

Thats great!!!

http://ummat.net/latest/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/nf07-21122011.gif

What the hell would we do with those 777s? And I remember night coaches. They were pretty popular a long time ago when my parents forced us to travel by night coach (1 AM, LYL-KHI) because the fares were 20% cheaper. Back then all fares used to be the same price.

That price of 6666 Rs, if includes all the taxes is very reasonable!

What the hell would we do with those 777s? And I remember night coaches. They were pretty popular a long time ago when my parents forced us to travel by night coach (1 AM, LYL-KHI) because the fares were 20% cheaper. Back then all fares used to be the same price.
those 777s will be used for European/ North American routes, lol we cant fly our 747s/a310s there, so we got 777s

I can't find the news anywhere else. I am not too sure if they were actually ordered.

PIA to acquire 30 new aircraft in 2012

PIA, the national flag carrier, would start acquiring new aircraft by 2012 enabling the airline to provide better air service to the people of Pakistan as well as attract passengers from other countries.

According to official sources, under a phased programme 30 new aircraft would be included to make the fleet sustainable and increase its strength to 70 aeroplanes.

Initially, the new planes would be acquired on a five-year lease. This deal includes an option to buy the same. With the option to buy later the plan is conceived to be cost-effective and will be completed by 2020.

The government has already approved an overall outline for the scheme and PIA was presently engaged in working out modalities to get the plan materialised.

The idea is to turn PIA into a profitable organisation with focus on cost cutting measures, in each and every respect, without compromising on quality, the sources said.

This procurement would be through financial institutions without any budgetary allocations or special government funds.

All 30 planes would be directly procured from the manufacturers of Boeing and Airbus aircraft.As for resources to get quality expansion in the carrier’s existing fleet, PIA makes all its transactions through commercial banks.

The actual cost for the procurement could be determined once transactions are finalized as each plane has its own specifications. The priority would be to acquire modern, fuel efficient and operationally cost effective planes.

According to the sources, PIA is currently maintaining its domestic and international flights’ schedule with a fleet of 34 aircraft, while five aircrafts were under scheduled maintenance after completing their required number of flying hours.

The operational fleet consist of nine Boeing 777, four Boeing 737, nine Airbus 310, six ATRs while the six Boeing 747s are mostly used for Hajj, Umrah and Charter operations. Besides, the Boeing 747s are used for supplementing the scheduled flights in replacement, if an aircraft is taken out of the operations for some correction or maintenance, as may be the situation for the maintenance of its flight schedule.

34+30=70

34+30=70

5 Aircrafts are under maintenance, so 34 + 30 + 5 = 69, so 1 still missing...

For PIA passengers, night time isn’t flight time

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)’s initiative of night coach service received such a lukewarm response on its first day that the jumbo jets planned for the service had to be replaced by smaller planes, Pakistan Today has learnt.

Reliable sources informed Pakistan Today that due to the limited number of passengers availing the service, the national flag carrier had to run the smaller planes.

The PIA management’s claim of earning high profits fell flat on their faces, as initially claiming to run 468-seater jumbo planes on the routes, a 48-seater ATR plane and a 118-seater plane (type 737-300) were flown on the Karachi-Lahore-Karachi route and the Karachi-Islamabad-Karachi route, respectively.

Interestingly, to attract passengers the fares of night coach were cut down to Rs 5,000 excluding taxes but this too would prove futile exercise as nobody is interested in travelling at the night time, especially to Karachi due to the law and order situation. “One would never want to land in Karachi at night while the city is plagued with violence and targeted killings a norm,” they added.

“The airline’s claim of generating Rs 4 million on two days of operation is extremely exaggerated, as the fare of the first flight service for each passenger was Rs 6,666 and even if planes on both routes were fully reserved – a highly unlikely event – it could only generate a little over Rs 1.1 million,” the sources said.

They added that the PIA management also claims that it will carry 20 tonnes high-yield cargo daily, but it is not likely to happen as the market share of PIA’s cargo is very limited while there is no cargo volume from Islamabad to Karachi.

“Even if all shipment stakeholders are included, the volume of high-yield cargo for Lahore is not more than eight tonnes, while only two or three tonnes are sent to Islamabad. From Karachi to Lahore, the total volume of high-yield cargo is around six tonnes, so the freight volume left over in the market is very low for the national carrier,” the sources said. “The TCS flies its freight plane 737-200 on Karachi-Lahore-Karachi route daily for 15 tonnes cargo including couriers. The Shaheen Air also carries three tonnes of cargo daily on the same route.”

“For what left over volume of cargo and passengers the national airline is to run 28 flights a week, especially in the winter season when you have below freezing temperatures in many cities and you cannot expect people to fly at night,” the sources questioned.

“Therefore, the night coach plan would surely result in heavy losses and the PIA administration doesn’t have plausible justification regarding the economics of such operation. Who will be held accountable for the anticipated failure is a huge question,” they said.

On Monday, PIA Deputy Managing Director Captain Junaid claimed that the night coaches are operating with full loads, and the flights to Lahore and Islamabad are likely to fetch the airline Rs 3 to 4 million daily, as well as provide affordable air travel within the country. “Soon the PIA will announce night coaches for Multan,” he said.

When contacted, PIA spokesman Sultan Ahmed said the type of planes flown on the route depends on the passenger load and the planes available. “Including cargo, the night coaches have so far generated Rs 4 million for the airlines,” he added.

they need to get rid of the a310s, 737s and 747s, too much expenses on those

Crashing figures: PIA loses over Rs70,000 per day

http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/324904-PIADESIGNJAMALKHURSHEED-1327089814-270-640x480.jpg
Defence minister admits huge losses in the Senate.

Pakistan International Airlines is suffering a loss of Rs70,676 per day. The worrying figures are in keeping with recent reports, which suggest the airline has already lost Rs110 billion over the past three years.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar informed lawmakers in his written reply submitted to the Senate on Friday that “PIA suffered Rs19 million losses over the last 273 days.”

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Senator Ismail Buledi and Pakistan Muslim League-Q Senator Begum Najma Hameed questioned why the national flag carrier had faced such turbulence for so long.

“PIA is not on brink of collapse, however it is a fact that the airline is in a sorry state of affairs,” acknowledged the minister, replying to questions posed by lawmakers during the question and answer session in parliament.

Asked why PIA was incurring losses despite growing domestic air traffic, Mukhtar said that high fuel costs were a factor. “We are looking to the government for help, before the national airline edges closer to the verge of collapse like Pakistan Railways,” he added.

Despite the crippling losses, PIA employees – both retired and serving – enjoy free travel in Pakistan as well as abroad, observed Senator Najma Hameed. Former directors and other board members are entitled to 12 tickets in economy and business plus, including other facilities, the written reply stated.

Lawmakers were also informed during the course of proceedings that seven out of 26 airports were closed down due to the suspension of PIA flight operations on account of insufficient traffic load. “Neither PIA nor any other airline is interested in conducting flight operations from the closed airports,” he said. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will consider proposals to make flights operational from the closed airports, said the minister.

Earlier, the ministry of defence revealed that over the past three years 2,171 people were recruited by PIA. The number of people hired by the incumbent government is the highest in the history of the national flag carrier, with 1,179 employed in 2010 alone.

“A paradigm shift is needed in PIA,” wrote Mukhtar in reply to this point. However, he maintained that there would be no reduction of manpower in operational staff such as pilots, aircraft engineers and specialised professionals.

The defence minister also disclosed that over Rs2.16 billion has been allocated for the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) in the current fiscal year (2011-12) budget.

The highest amount, worth Rs1.5 billion, will be spent on the Pakistan Communication Satellite System, he said. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Suparco and the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications for scientific cooperation on the operational use of remote sensing technology in the fields of agriculture, water resources and disaster risk assessment.

^^ Think it's wrong .. It should be more than that.

^^ +1. This is the loss figure which the govt. is accepting...

"we are looking to the government for help" screw you guyz wtf have been they doing for the last three years

"we are looking to the government for help" screw you guyz wtf have been they doing for the last three years
PIA is in the shit because of the government and itself, both. They are inept people who are put there by the government.

its time for private arilines to shine, air indus got its international flying code and it will take to the skies, we will see a tough competition between airblue, shaheenair, pia, airindus, bhoja and pearl air

khuda PIA samet tamam country per reham farmay

its time for private arilines to shine, air indus got its international flying code and it will take to the skies, we will see a tough competition between airblue, shaheenair, pia, airindus, bhoja and pearl air

When are these 3 new airlines taking off... Had heard about Indus, what's with these other two! Bhoja and Pearl Air......??

When are these 3 new airlines taking off... Had heard about Indus, what's with these other two! Bhoja and Pearl Air......??
bhoja s aircrafts r in south africa getting their paint jobs, pearl and bhoja r getting 737-200, air indus is getting 737-300/400/500s bt im not sure when they will start flying them

bhoja s aircrafts r in south africa getting their paint jobs, pearl and bhoja r getting 737-200, air indus is getting 737-300/400/500s bt im not sure when they will start flying them

Thanks for the info....

Despite hardships, PIA announces 17% growth

PIA announces strategy for 2012.

Despite strains on ground with increasing number of delays and aircrafts being grounded, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has claimed to have registered a 17 per cent growth in sales in the past year. It also announced reduced revisions in some booking charges, along with incentives for agents.

This was revealed by PIA’s Advisor and Consultant Haider Jalal at a marketing conference held to appreciate the performance of top 20 agents of which 10 were International Air Transport Agents (IATA) and10 Passenger Sales Agents.

PIA also discussed its strategy for 2012 and assured its full support and commitment to the Travel Agents, so that together they could achieve benefits for all stakeholders.

PIA also announced a revised and reduced refund charges on International routes from Rs13000 to Rs8000. PIA has simultaneously revised and decreased Change of Booking (COB) charges on its International flights from Rs8000 to Rs4000.

No-Show charges for passengers travelling to International destinations have been reduced from Rs13000 to Rs6000. Similarly all sale agents for USA, Canada, UK, and Europe have been given incentives for further improvement in sales and growth in revenue.

Travel Agents applauded PIA’s efforts and cooperation and the decrease in Refund, No Show and COB charges.

The meeting was chaired by Advisor and Consultant Haider Jalal and attended by General Manager Passenger Sales Maj. Khurram Mushtaq, GM Revenue Management Tahir Niaz, DGM Pakistan Naveed, DM Lahore, Manager Passenger Sales Corporate Asadullah Ghauri, Passenger Sales Manager M. Shafiq, Assistant Passenger Sales Manager Dr Muqadam and other marketing officials.

wow thats a shocker, PIA needs to make its back bone stronger first (domestic routes) and thn focus on international routes, PIA definitely can grow more thn that if they could just get more planes. p.s heard that bhoja might start flying on 5th feb

PIA will discontinue service to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) starting 24 March 2012.
http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/03/pk-ord-s12cxld/

PIA will discontinue service to Chicago O'Hare (ORD) starting 24 March 2012.
http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/03/pk-ord-s12cxld/
they will be back, same goes for colombo, im 100% sure

they will be back, same goes for colombo, im 100% sure
instead they are increasing 2X weekly on da new york route which is a good step and btw bhoja is da only one now which has aquired planes and they have even put advertisement boards at Jinnah International.

instead they are increasing 2X weekly on da new york route which is a good step and btw bhoja is da only one now which has aquired planes and they have even put advertisement boards at Jinnah International.
yea, they shud hav daily flights to new york, yup, bhoja got 1 737-200 and 737-400, im sure more r coming, airindus pilots r receiving their training, no news a pearlair

they will be back, same goes for colombo, im 100% sure

I have noticed the number of times PIA backs out of a market then is back in the same market shortly there after or in the distant future. They have been in and out of Washington Dulles (IAD), which is near me, a couple of times in the past.

Can they make up there minds?

I have noticed the number of times PIA backs out of a market then is back in the same market shortly there after or in the distant future. They have been in and out of Washington Dulles (IAD), which is near me, a couple of times in the past.

Can they make up there minds?
that's because of the management changes, PIA will be back in Chicago, Colombo and Istanbul soon. It doesnt matter if PIA becomes successful or not because other private carriers hav the potential to grow without corruption and we expect big frm private carriers

I have noticed the number of times PIA backs out of a market then is back in the same market shortly there after or in the distant future. They have been in and out of Washington Dulles (IAD), which is near me, a couple of times in the past.

Can they make up there minds?
You are talking about the wordt-run airline in the world! Good luck if you can find any answers!

Are you guys sure about the Chicago cancellation? If you go to their website you can still book a flight later than that. I went all the way to the last page right before confirming the booking.

Never mind, there route map on their website confirms the bad news.

PIA stall was also at Lahore Book Fair Exhibition, they were promoting their "BOOM BOOM SIXERS" package which consists of:

Karachi - Islamabad (12:05 am)
Karachi - Lahore (12:20 am)
Lahore - Karachi (04:15 am)
Islamabad - Karachi (05:00 am)

One way fare is 6666 + Surcharge & Government Taxes...

that's because of the management changes, PIA will be back in Chicago, Colombo and Istanbul soon. It doesnt matter if PIA becomes successful or not because other private carriers hav the potential to grow without corruption and we expect big frm private carriers

PIA is returning Colombo via Lahore:
http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/20/pk-cmb-s12/http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/20/pk-cmb-s12/

PIA is returning Colombo via Lahore:
http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/20/pk-cmb-s12/http://airlineroute.net/2012/02/20/pk-cmb-s12/
And they decided not to cancel Chicago route, lmao PIA is pretty predictable

Boeing confirms order for five 777-300ERs of PIA

Boeing Company and Pakistan International Airlines Monday announced a firm order for five 777-300ER (extended range) airplanes. Valued at nearly $1.5 billion at list prices, the order also includes purchase rights to PIA for five additional 777-300ERs, a Boeing company press release said.

PIA has been renewing its long-haul fleet to accommodate increased demand for air travel as well as to introduce new routes.

“With passenger traffic in our region accelerating, new 777-300ER airplanes will continue to deliver the highest standards of technology and passenger comfort to our customers,” said Capt Nadeem Yousufzai, Managing Director PIA. “The spacious 777-300ER has been an integral part of long-range fleet renewal programme and its excellent operating economics, long range capability and reliability will allow to expand into new long-haul markets.”

“We are proud PIA is a special Boeing customer that continues to invest and trust in industry-leading capabilities of the 777 family of airplanes,” said Marty Bentrott, ice President Sales for Middle East, Russia and Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Shopping: PIA to buy five Boeing 777-300ER airplanes

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing announced February 20, 2012 that Pakistan International Airlines has ordered five of its 777-300ER long-range passenger jets, with an option for five more. The planes are "valued at nearly $1.5 billion at list prices," the US manufacturer said in a statement. Karachi-based PIA "has been renewing its long-haul fleet to accommodate increased demand for air travel as well as to introduce new routes," Boeing said.

Boeing and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday announced a firm order for five 777-300ER (extended range) airplanes valued at nearly $1.5 billion at list prices.

The order also includes purchase rights to PIA for five additional 777-300ERs, says a press release issued by Boeing.

The deal is part of PIA’s long-haul fleet renewable programme aimed at accommodating increased demand for air travel as well as introducing new routes.

“With passenger traffic in our region accelerating, the new 777-300ER airplanes will continue to deliver the highest standards of technology and passenger comfort,” said Captain Nadeem Yousufzai, Managing Director of PIA.

“The 777-300ER is a perfect fit for PIA as it will generate more revenue and carry additional payload, while extending range capability,” said Miguel Santos, Director International Sales of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

With this order, PIA’s 777 fleet will grow to 14.

http://jang.com.pk/jang/feb2012-daily/21-02-2012/updates/2-21-2012_97352_1.gif

As if posting the news just once wasn't enough. :laugh: