Pakistan International Airlines Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[David Cartwright]

I'm sure I read last week in the aviation press that the Pakistan government said it will not allow PIA to go bust.

Personally I would prefer them not return to BHX for a good while or even not at all and let Emirates, Qatar, Saudi and Turkish continue to pick up the traffic and hopefully expand further. What PIA allowed to go on within its business was a disgrace not to mention potentially fatal to hundreds of people.

I 100% agree with you . No place for them at BHX as far as I’m concerned, not tomorrow, next week or ever .

 

[laviation]

Incorrect. Their plan was LHR and MAN

I’m referencing an interview done with their COO in the first week of September…

https://historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32039

 

[gulftraveller]

I can’t help feeling that it might be better to close it down and start again. The government claims they cannot let PIA fail. Yet they seem privately to have washed their hands of it.

 

[Scania1800]

I can’t help feeling that it might be better to close it down and start again. The government claims they cannot let PIA fail. Yet they seem privately to have washed their hands of it.

I totally agree, the current situation of the airline just isn’t good enough to keep it going. Start from scratch again, and make the airline want to look attractive with a good product that people want to go on

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

Even if PIA Do get going again with Airbus and Boeing not providing parts the maintenance of there 777's will probably be questionable

 

[JENNYJET]

Might as well try reviving either PANAM or Laker, never going to happen. Reputational damage is the hardest to repair.

 

[Scania1800]

Even if PIA Do get going again with Airbus and Boeing not providing parts the maintenance of there 777's will probably be questionable

Although they do have a very strong connection with UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

 

[David Cartwright]

Although they do have a very strong connection with UAE, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

And those carriers would see a desperate PIA looking for support and hike their charges appropriately and in turn it gets passed on to the traveller who then look elsewhere due to ticket costs .

 

[Matt995]

And those carriers would see a desperate PIA looking for support and hike their charges appropriately and in turn it gets passed on to the traveller who then look elsewhere due to ticket costs .

maybe true David, but wouldn't the Pakistan community in the West Midlands & surrounding areas rather fly on their own countries airline PIA, rather than another carrier?

re PIA i believe the government has bailed out the airline yet again, on the basis that they are now going to privatization the airline. - might be better to close the airline down and form a new one from scratch with no debts/loans etc?

 

[Scania1800]

maybe true David, but wouldn't the Pakistan community in the West Midlands & surrounding areas rather fly on their own countries airline PIA, rather than another carrier?

re PIA i believe the government has bailed out the airline yet again, on the basis that they are now going to privatization the airline. - might be better to close the airline down and form a new one from scratch with no debts/loans etc?

Privatisation is still possible to save the airline

 

[Aviador]

Of a list of airlines I would choose not to fly on PIA would come in the top one.

Having experienced PIA and Pakistan airline Shaheen Air I would put Shaheen Air on top of that list before PIA if that gives you an indication as to how bad they were. I don't even know if they're still flying. Maybe Pakistan should rely on foreign carriers.

 

[Scania1800]

Having experienced PIA and Pakistan airline Shaheen Air I would put Shaheen Air on top of that list before PIA if that gives you an indication as to how bad they were. I don't even know if they're still flying. Maybe Pakistan should rely on foreign carriers.

Shaheens long gone.

 

[Aviador]

Shaheens long gone.

Probably just as well. I knew they had left the UK market but wasn't aware they had gone altogether. They made PIA look like a professional outfit.

 

[JENNYJET]

I can’t help feeling that it might be better to close it down and start again. The government claims they cannot let PIA fail. Yet they seem privately to have washed their hands of it.

If one gets down to the weeds, it was fraudulent application by individuals and the alleged support of persons of authority by allowing fake licences to enable employment of, let us be quite blunt, dishonest people. PIA appears to be rotten to the core and is destined to fail in it's current guise. Getting regulatory approval is the biggest concern and a complete dissolution is probably best.

Starting fresh with trusted management, preferably private sector, might be what that proud nation deserves and keeping the state at arms length would help. They should learn from the demise of the state carriers of Nigeria and South Africa, once the rot sets in it gets difficult to eradicate.

Having Governments run an airline as a vanity project to project an image rarely works well. India has sold it's airline back to it's founders ( TATA ) who have begun a rebranding exercise and have placed huge orders for new efficient aircraft because the state seems unable to afford to, but can send probes to the moon. Pakistan might do well in following the example of India.

 

[Matt995]

EASA likely to lift ban on flight operation of Pakistani aircraft: Sources

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

Thank you @aviatellc for posting that report which is highly enlightening, if only to show the confusion that seems to have occurred. Also welcome to F4A and we look forward to many other post from you in due course.

forums4airports.com

 

[IanFarquharson]

Not sure if this is good news or not as Turkish & Saudi are benefitting a lot by not having PIA at BHX

 

[mullion]

Yes I agree Ian as if/when PIA return it will be a very depleted fleet and they can`t afford any new aircraft.

 

[Matt995]

Not sure if this is good news or not as Turkish & Saudi are benefitting a lot by not having PIA at BHX

Yes true Ian, but or course we have no guarrentee the PIA will return back to BHX, presumably LHR and MAN will be their priorities if they get the go ahead to resume flying later this year,

and currently they still ony have 1 B77W in service out of 4 - AP-BHV, and 4 B772s in service out of 6.

 

[nwoody2001]

I suspect PIA will prioritise returning to BHX, and wouldnt be shocked if given the amount of competition from LHR, they prioritise the regions ahead of London.

Thats said, the last few years has allowed the likes of Turkish, Qatar and Saudia to really start to establish their market out of the midlands with their vastly superior service and dependability. Yes there will be people willing to compromise service standards for cost and direct flights, but PIA will find it hard to win back their past market. Plus anyone not living in Islamabad and requiring onward connections, would you rather connect through Turkish, Qatar or Saudia.... or PIA?!?

I would welcome the return of PIA... but i legit dont think Turkish, Qatar or Saudia would see much threat in it!

 

[gulftraveller]

Although nothing has been said recently, PIA’s plan was believed to be MAN followed by CDG followed by LHR. I doubt the company can afford leasing in aircraft so they will be stuck with 3? refurbished 777-300. I will believe all this only when I hear they have touched down.

If there are losers, most likely it would be Saudia and Turkish.