Pakistan International Airlines

[JENNYJET]

If I remember, desks at airports fulfilled a function and were switchable, i.e. hot desks. Travelling through LHR, I joined a queue that snaked around a roped containment often outside, and the desk simply checked me in, irrespective of airline or flight, no airline branding or class of travel indicated.

It was efficient if impersonal. If BHX ever got that busy I would be delighted.

 

[Scania1800]

If I remember, desks at airports fulfilled a function and were switchable, i.e. hot desks. Travelling through LHR, I joined a queue that snaked around a roped containment often outside, and the desk simply checked me in, irrespective of airline or flight, no airline branding or class of travel indicated.

It was efficient if impersonal. If BHX ever got that busy I would be delighted.

BHX does get quite busy when the international flights are quite together, definitely in July as Saudia, Emirates & Qatar in close by times.

 

[Scania1800]

Spotted at BHX today.

 

[laviation]

Spotted at BHX today.
View attachment 28562

PIA signage is at MAN too. Don't expect them to operate !

 

[Scania1800]

PIA signage is at MAN too. Don't expect them to operate !

BHX one was removed, it just was readded…

 

[Matt995]

BHX one was removed, it just was readded…

maybe in reference to the PK code share on the Turkish Istanbul flights, for anyone that has booked with PIA via Istanbul?

 

[laviation]

exactly that.. a lot of the UK-Pakistan market still books the old way and may not realise they’re flying Turkish

 

[gulftraveller]

It seems that resumption of services must await some new legislation affecting the Pakistani CAA. I assume it is a condition imposed by international regulators. The historyofpia website suggests PIA would then start MAN-LHE/ISB, followed by LHR when operations normalise. I assume other European destinations would then follow. I doubt the signage at MAN and BHX indicates an imminent resumption of services.

 

[Scania1800]

PIA has passed the EASA safety Audit, and the UKs turn to audit PIA will take place in September.

 

[Matt995]

PIA has passed the EASA safety Audit, and the UKs turn to audit PIA will take place in September.

https://historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31924

 

[Scania1800]

https://historyofpia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31924

As from what I’ve heard they have passed it. Still not a Confirmation into what’s happening

 

[Timberwolf]

They have just sold their LHR slots to Kuwait Air and TK for 6 months, so no return this side of 2023 by looks.

 

[Nethercote2019]

PIA did say that Man would be first U.K. route & also Paris

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

They have just sold their LHR slots to Kuwait Air and TK for 6 months, so no return this side of 2023 by looks.

PIA are leasing the LHR slots to Kuwait & Royal Jordanian only because PIA would have lost those lots if they didn't.

 

[BHX757]

PIA has passed the EASA safety Audit, and the UKs turn to audit PIA will take place in September.

This is the first Desktop 'remote' audit. EASA are required to do an on-site one in Pakistan still.

 

[KJAY 786]

* It would be nice to see PIA fly Karachi, Islamabad, Peshwar, Faislabad and Lahore from second city Birmingham largest Pakistani Population in country West Midlands would welcome PIA back - fingers crossed they come back to Birmingham UK

 

[mullion]

its Manchester that is 1st in line with Islamabad and Lahore but when you add Manchester, Liverpool ,Lancashire and Yorkshire

 

[IanFarquharson]

Pakistani populations
Birmingham (pop. 195,102)
Bradford (139,553)
Manchester (65,875)
Kirklees (54,795)
Redbridge (44,000)
and Luton (41,143).

 

[JENNYJET]

Yes, resume the Karachi service, remembering the A310's and Boeing 743's that visited Birmingham* every week, seeing them sail over Bloxwich on approach to BHX.

 

[gulftraveller]

The official figures ( 2021 census) show the Pakistani population in Manchester’s catchment at over 600,000 which would probably explain why over the years PIA have focused there. They seem likely to return there rather than LHR in the short term, for operational/slot reasons.

As for Karachi, the Sindhis are fewer in number and seem to be located largely in the London catchment. Karachi is far less connected, at least to Europe, than 20 years ago.