Pakistani Aviation

[cntower]

Boeing 720-047B (Copyright © Ray Pettit)

This photo taken by Ray shows AP-AXL taxiing at London-Heathrow Airport on November 10, 1974. PIA began operating Boeing 720B aircraft in 1962 and Boeing 720B created many golden moments in the history of PIA; PIA's very first Boeing 720B broke the world record for the London-Karachi non-stop flight time; another Boeing 720B made PIA the first non-communist airline to operate flights to China; and again it was a Boeing 720B which made PIA the first non-communist airline to operate a service between Asia and Europe via Moscow. On the 5th of July of 1986, the last of PIA's tough pioneering Boeing 720B jets operated its final flight. Without ceremony or fanfare it landed at Karachi Airport, never to take off again on a trip that made short work of oceans and continents, deserts and mountains.

[cntower]

At Gwadar Airport (OPGD) on January 4th, 2008

[FM 2258]

Originally Posted by cntower

^ They are replacing the 737s with A321s actually.

How sad. I was hoping to see some shiny new Boeing 737-800's with large colorful winglets.

[cntower]

Originally Posted by FM 2258

How sad. I was hoping to see some shiny new Boeing 737-800's with large colorful winglets.

Well they're only leasing the A321s from another airline, I would hope later in the future they would go for these new 737s but it's unlikely. We'll see the future still looks uncertain, by the looks of it PIA could be privatized (praying it does).

[cntower]

Pakistan Air Force C130

[cntower]

Included are pics of ISB ramp and the new CIP lounge. And obviously, cockpit shots too....

[cntower]

[KB]

CAA plans new airport at Gwadar

By Masood Anwar

KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decided to construct a new airport at Gwadar, in addition to the existing one which the Authority failed to extend due to unavailability of more land, high-placed CAA sources revealed to The News.

The new airport, aimed at meeting future requirements, will be built about 26 kms away in the northeast of the existing airport towards Pasni.

To set the exact position of the proposed airport, the CAA administration has completed physical survey of the area and made cost estimates.

Earlier, the CAA had proposed extension of existing airport but could not implement it as a retired senior bureaucrat claimed the ownership of adjacent land. He won the case from the Balochistan High Court and now the case is pending with the Supreme Court.

Moreover, the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) had proposed the construction of a road close to the existing airport, making its extension unfeasible. For that plan, the GDA also got approval from the President, baffling CAA officials, who then decided to construct an entire civilian airport at a new location.

Gwadar Airport will be the second major airport in the country that will be used for civilian purposes. At present, the CAA is managing around 37 airports in the country, of which Karachi airport is the only major airport that is under the total supervision of the CAA.

All other airports including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad are being jointly used by the Pakistan Air Force and the CAA.

"We have pointed out the location of the new airport and intimated the federal government," a high official of the CAA told The News. "Now the plan is under process."

He said that the Balochistan government had the responsibility to provide land to the CAA without any claim so that the Authority could start the process of designing and building runways, terminal building, control tower, cargo area, residential colony and others.

Gwadar is getting a new face after the commissioning of a seaport there. The federal government as well as Balochistan government are keen to accelerate the pace of development work in the city to meet new requirements.

A new big airport equipped with modern and latest systems and devices is the prime need of the city.

"We have just completed the first step," the CAA official said, adding "CAA is handicapped without the physical possession of land."

"Once the land is provided, the CAA will invite international tenders for the building of runways and other structures," he said.

He declined to give any financial estimates of the construction of the new airport, saying it could be possible after the possession of land and approval of construction plan.

The source of financing the construction of the new airport is also unclear. "Whether the new airport will be constructed by the CAA from its own resources or international lending agencies will provide the loan, is not clear," he said.

[KB]

Air Blue places $700 million orders for 14 A320-200s

IQBAL MIRZA
KARACHI (November 12 2007): Pakistan's fastest growing private sector carrier, Air Blue, has placed orders worth $700 million for purchase of 14 new A320-200 aircraft. This is the second largest order for outright purchase of brand new aircraft after national carrier PIA's $1.2 billion order placed in 2005 for purchase of eight Boeing aircraft--three 777-ER-200, three 777-ER-300 and two 777-LR-200.

There is, however, a marked difference in the purchase of aircraft by Air Blue and PIA, as the government had to provide sovereign guarantee to the Eximp Bank for the purchase of aircraft by PIA, and the private sector carrier Air Blue provided only Company's guarantee.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Air Blue Chief Executive Officer, told Business Recorder here on Saturday that a formal agreement for the purchase of 14 new A-320-200 would be signed between Airbus Industrie and Air Blue in Dubai on November 13 during the five-day air show, which started on November 11. The Airbus Chairman Industrie would sign the agreement on behalf of the aircraft manufacturer and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi would sign on behalf of Air Blue .

Abbasi left for Dubai late on Saturday afternoon to attend the air show and to sign the agreement.

He said that the first A320-200 aircraft would be delivered in July, 2009, and thereafter one aircraft would be delivered after every three months thus completing the delivery of 14 aircraft by the end of 2012. Following induction of the new aircraft, the Air Blue fleet at present comprising three A-320s and three A-321s, which are on lease, would be returned to the lessor companies.

About the financial health of Air Blue, Abbasi said that from the word 'go', three years back "we have not, for once looked back". Despite the fact that Pakistani carriers, to cover up their failures, have been crying hoarse about the galloping increase in fuel prices, Air Blue, he said, had posted profits year after year in the face of high fuel costs and other expansion expenses.

The annual accounts, which are now being audited, would be announced by the end of next month, Abbasi said, adding that the airline would end up with a profit of around Rs 150 million and a 20 percent return on equity.

He said that Islamabad to Manchester Air Blue flights have proved a roaring success. The seat occupancy, both ways, has been hundred percent, although high season has not yet started, he added.

Similarly, he said, Dubai flights were also doing good business. About future expansion plans, he said that once the new aircraft are inducted into the airline, "we would expand towards West as well as East ie, Europe, Middle East, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand would be our future destinations."

[KB]

PIA ancient livery

[KB]

PIA's new livery.

[KB]

[KB]

Other airlines(Pvt) of Pakistan

Air Blue










Aero ASIA









Shaheen Air International

[KB]

These are the destinations in the UK Shaheen will be flying too

United Kingdom

* Birmingham (Birmingham International Airport (planned for summer 2008)
* Glasgow (Glasgow International Airport (planned for summer 2008)
* Leeds/Bradford (Leeds Bradford International Airport) [starts 07 February 2008]
* Luton (Luton Airport) [tentative launch date 30 March 2008]
* Stansted (Stansted Airport) (planned for summer 2008)

[KB]

KARACHI : As part of its ongoing efforts aimed at upgradation of airports across the country, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has earmarked Rs 4.5 billion for further development of Multan airport, which will be upgraded to international status.

Of this total allocation, Rs 3.5 billion is being spent by CAA from its ADP, while the remaining Rs 1 billion will be contributed and covered by the government. This was announced by Farooq Rahmatullah, Director-General, Civil Aviation Authority, while addressing a press briefing on Wednesday.

Vikram S Sodha, Director, Planning and Development, CAA, at present spearheading the project, Air Cdre Junaid Ameen (CEO, Airport Services), Yousuf Kamal (Director, Works) and other CAA officials were also present.

Highlighting the recent developments on the ongoing upgradation process, Farooq said that efforts were being made to facilitate all domestic and international passengers at Multan airport. The project, he said, encompasses two important phases--expansion of terminal building, and upgradation of 'Airside Facilities' in Phase Two.

He said that army was providing 43 acres land to CAA, free of cost, and Pakistan Air Force has allowed extension of runway on its land. About various aspects of the ongoing project, Vikram said that CAA has also hired services of a well known consultant consortium comprising ECIL the Lois Berger Group (LBG), FNMH & VOROW International, which have undertaken the planning and design-related aspects of the project.

All concepts related towards the planning and designing of the 'Airside facilities' of Phase One for the airport have been specially designed by these consultants, he said.

He said that the runway length of the new Multan international airport would be increased to 11,000 feet from the present 9000 feet, raising the width of the runway to 150 feet, and 25 feet wide shoulders on either side against the present width of 100 feet. And, the runway would be upgraded to Category 'E' (B-747) design aircraft. He further said that strengthening of parallel taxiway and construction of new apron and overruns on both ends of the runway, as per NAFCP/ICAO recommendations, is also a part of this upgradation plan.

Regarding the completion time of the project, Farooq said that following the tender documentation, which is expected to be completed by the end of January 2008, airside work phase-one for the airport project is expected to commence from April 2008 with the expected completion time of up to 36 months.

source: Brecorder: http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?i...&term=&supDate

[KB]

[cntower]

^ What are the prices?

[cntower]

AP-BHV and AP-BHW at LHR

[Mahratta]

PIA has the most interesting tails

[GlasgowMan]

PIA Pakistan International Re-Instate Direct Flights to Glasgow
PIA Pakistan International Airlines, the national carrier of Pakistan, will re-instate there direct flights from Glasgow International Airport to Pakistan this spring.

Flights from Glasgow to Faisalabad and Lahore will operate every Wednesday and Sunday from the 2nd of April 2008. Flights will be operated by a three-class Airbus A310 type aircraft, capable of carrying over 180 passengers.

Direct flights between Glasgow and Pakistan can be booked by calling PIA's Glasgow ticket office on 0141-221-9936.