Shaheen Air

[Aviador]

The things I learnt about Shaheen at the time were an eye opener. Like I said let's hope things have changed.

If anybody has anything positive to say about them, they are more than welcome say it. It will make a refreshing read.

 

[User001]

Well, I know they haven't got the best reputation, but, in retrospect I don't think any carriers from that region do have the best of reputations.

But, that said, if they want to give the route a go, I say go for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. They have been around a few years now so it's not exactly an unheard of start up. Could end up being a disaster, but, we won't know that unless they try.

Shaheen are keen to start USA ops apparently, just like a few years ago when a DSA transit flight was mooted. If Shaheen can get rights to places like San Fransisco, then, could be a good gain for the MAN route network, even if it is a transit flight (although New York and at a push Washington would be the likely USA routes if Shaheen did enter that market.)

 

[User001]

Just looking at the Shaheen schedule, I'm now seriously worried that this route will be short lived, and here's why:

Tuesday, the flight arrives 1900, and departs 2200.......the next day!!!

Friday sees the aircraft arrive at 1500 and depart 2200, and Sunday a standard 3 hour turn around with a 1900 arrival and 2200 departure.

27 hours is a long time for the aircraft to be sat at MAN doing nothing, so, this will affect the profitability of the flight and therefore be a risk?

Not holding too much hope for this one to see it to the end of 2016 unless there are drastic changes.

 

[David_itl]

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/15-Mar-2016/shaheen-airline-s-first-uk-flight-cancelled

Day one of ops: 104 passengers booked but the the Pakistan CAA banned it from operating as they needed to do an "experimental" flight.

 

[User001]

Shaheen seem to be getting about 90% loads on their new MAN flights, not bad considering stories that it's incredibly hard to get a ticket issued with them.

Anyway, hearing that a 2 weekly ISB-MAN-YYZ-MAN-ISB flight is being sought, with full 5th freedoms. This will be in addition to the 3 weekly ISB flights, however, the Canada-Pakistan bilateral a need changing before Shaheen can start, as at the moment, there can only be 4 flights with 1000 seats between the 2 countries, and PIA have maxed that out at the moment.

 

[Dobbo]

That's good. Glad it is working for them. Are PIA still having sucess?

I had wondered about the Canada to Subcontinent market (I.e. Including Pakistan and India). It is a fair distance and a reasonably large and dispersed market.

As Canada is also underserved from MAN it may be that flights could transit through MAN on this route, from different points of origin, synchronised to allow connections.

Is there any merit to this?

 

[User001]

Shaheen must be doing well, they are adding a 4th weekly flight on Saturdays from 4th July.

Confirmed and bookable on their website.

 

[ethanegcc]

How are Shaheen doing?

There was an interesting review on YouTube, whereby the passenger said that Shaheen were much superior to PIA in food, comfort and cabin crew friendliness. Interesting and whether regular travellers between Manchester and Pakistan are beginning to realise this too, I have no idea.

From the new statistics, could anyone shed light on the LFs for MAN-Pakistan (Islamabad and Lahore/Karachi)?

 

[David_itl]

It's going to be a bit difficult! Will only do the Islamabad numbers. the CAA reports 20316 passengers on MAN-ISB, up an impressive 80.22%

With PK operating 6 weekly, the maximum number of passengers using them is somewhere between 16,450 and 19,450.
For Shaheen, the maximum number of passengers is 11,084.

Therefore, between them we're talking available capacity:
Maximum 30534 seats = 66.54% loads
Minimum 27534 seats = 73.79% loads


This is where my wobbly maths comes in as there's no way I'm paying for an individual breakdown so this is based on seating plans I've found:

What PK carried at a bare minimum (version 1) = 20316 total passengers less the 11084 available seats for Shaheen which equates to 9232 passengers are loads of 47.47% based on maximum available seats

What PK carried at a bare minimum (version 2) = 20316 total passengers less the 11084 available seats for
Shaheen which equates to 9232 passengers are loads of 56.12% based on minimum available seats

What Shaheen carried at a bare minimum (version 1) = 20316 passengers less 19450 maximum available PK seats = 866 passengers or 7.8% loads

What Shaheen carried at a bare minimum (version 2) = 20316 passengers less 16450 minimum available PK seats = 3866 passengers or 34.88% loads

Hope that makes some kind of sense!

 

[ethanegcc]

I thought it might be quite difficult! Thank you.

 

[Ray Finkle]

This does not sound good at all!

Full article: https://www.geo.tv/latest/128722-CAA-bars-faulty-Shaheen-Air-plane-from-flying

KARACHI: The Civil Aviation Authority has barred Shaheen Air from operating a faulty plane on commercial flights, after it was revealed that a key part of the engine was tied with the help of metallic wires and a chain.

The private airline risked lives of hundreds of passengers by operating a faulty Airbus A-330, having a capacity of 300 passengers, on a Manchester-bound flight from Islamabad.

Geo News received a picture from a responsible official of Shaheen Air that showed an engine part tied with the help wires and a chain. The picture was from the engine of airline's Airbus A-330, having registration number APBML.

 

[Dobbo]

I'm so glad I've got no reason to fly Shaeen!! That is as dumb as you like!

 

[Aviador]

Clearly Shaheen have taken no positive steps to change the way they operate since their last business venture flying into the UK.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Reports elsewhere suggest that Shaheen's last MAN flight is on 15th February. Likely a direct result of this safety infringement. Extremely disappointing ... what were their management doing? PIA will once again have MAN-ISB to themselves, but history tells us that they are unlikely to up capacity sufficiently to replace what we're losing.

One slight silver lining is that carriers such as Oman Air and the Gulf carriers will receive a boost from this. Four A332 loads per week is alot of bums-on-seats to redistribute.

 

[ethanegcc]

Reports elsewhere suggest that Shaheen's last MAN flight is on 15th February. Likely a direct result of this safety infringement. Extremely disappointing ... what were their management doing? PIA will once again have MAN-ISB to themselves, but history tells us that they are unlikely to up capacity sufficiently to replace what we're losing.

One slight silver lining is that carriers such as Oman Air and the Gulf carriers will receive a boost from this. Four A332 loads per week is alot of bums-on-seats to redistribute.

Very disappointing - especially as it seemed they were doing well and had better service than PK. Surely it would be wise for PK to increase options e.g. two 333s per week but, as you say, it is great for Oman Air.

 

[ethanegcc]

Shaheen Air are according to their twitter page, 'temporarily suspending their flights until an issue can be resolved'. I suspect this is the safety issues but hopefully they may restart their services.

 

[Aviador]

I'll be honest. I'm pleased this flight is stopping and it comes as no surprise at all.