Pakistan International Airlines

[User0001]

PIA plan to stop the Glasgow-Lahore service... http://airlineroute.net/2010/01/05/pk-lhegla-cxld/

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Glasgow Airport – Pakistan link to continue

A threat to axe a direct air link between Glasgow Airport and Lahore in Pakistan has been lifted, the BBC reports. It comes after senior officials at Pakistan International Airlines held talks with Glasgow Airport's managers twice yesterday. City council officials and Pakistan's consul-general in Scotland were also involved in the talks.

At the talks it was agreed there would be improved efforts to market the twice-weekly flights to give the airline a higher profile in Scotland. The new marketing drive will focus efforts by leaders of the Pakistani community in Scotland to increase use of the route, or face a renewed threat of its loss.

It is reported that planes on the route have been operating at 64% of their capacity, whereas the airline needs to fill about 74% of seats if they are to break-even. State-owned PIA also faces competition for Pakistani-Scots flying to visit family in the sub-continent. Emirates airline flies more frequently between Glasgow and Dubai.

Source[/textarea]

 

[Aviador]

So a reprieve for the time being. Lets hope the airports marketing will do the trick and save the route.

 

[backtrack]

What do PIA operate on this route? Do they use the A310's we see at LBA, or do they use the larger B772's?

 

[User0001]

A310's

 

[lbaspotter]

Its now been confirmed that (PIA) Pakistan International's will axe its direct Lahore-Glasgow service as off January 22nd, 2011. They were operating twice weekly flights with Airbus A310-300 aircarft with an averge pax load of 77%.

The Schedule was showing flights loaded uptill November just before Christmas but these have since been removed from the airlines website.

sorce bbc news http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12067058

Pakistan International Airlines to cut Glasgow link

By Rahila Bano - BBC Asian Network

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is to stop flying out of Glasgow from next month, it has announced.

The carrier said the service was not attracting enough business and had been running at a loss.

However, the decision has caused anger among Glasgow's Pakistani community, with local MP Anas Sarwar condemning the move.

PIA said the air link, which has operated since 2005, would cease on 22 January.

Businessman Shokat Mubarik, who is a regular user of the twice-weekly service to Lahore, said the decision would make his life more difficult.

He said: "It will be a big inconvenience.

"Most of the Pakistani community in Scotland is from Lahore or places nearby, like Gujranwala or Faisalabad, so it was convenient for them.

"People from all over Scotland use these flights, even from Carlisle, because it's quicker for them to go to Glasgow rather than to travel to Manchester.

"This decision will annoy a lot of people."

Twin city
Glasgow Central MP Anas Sarwar said he was unconvinced by the airline's reasons for stopping the service.

He said: "PIA has been flying at a 77% capacity and has had a turnover of more than £4m this year.

"These flights have a genuine benefit for people on all sides. Glasgow is twinned with the city of Lahore."

Mr Sarwar said the economic impact of the decision should not be overlooked.

He added: "The city and the airport have been trying to attract big airlines from around the world to fly direct flights through Glasgow to make it a hub within Scotland, to boost the economy of Scotland and to make it an attractive place to come to work, to holiday, and I think this will have a negative impact - I have written to them again."

However, speaking from his office in Karachi, PIA's public relations manager Mahmoon Rashid told the BBC Asian Network: "We've been running at a loss.

"Between January and November 2008 we had 22,916 passengers travelling with us. But between January and November in 2009, it was 22,149.

"We've been flying with a 70% capacity load. We've made losses of £600m rupees, which is equivalent to about £43m and we can't continue like this any more."

Mr Rashid said the airline had been considering the future of the service since 2008.

He added: "We wanted to stop then but after a meeting with over 100 members of the Glaswegian community, it was decided that we should set targets and try to achieve them with their help - but this hasn't happened."

 

[Aviador]

At the end of the day PIA is in serious financial trouble and the airline needs to cut it's losses. I am surprised that the twice weekly service just can't operate once weekly which would surely make it profitable once again. The other rotation could perhaps run into another airport such as Leeds Bradford.

 

[lbaspotter]

At the end of the day PIA is in serious financial trouble and the airline needs to cut it's losses. I am surprised that the twice weekly service just can't operate once weekly which would surely make it profitable once again. The other rotation could perhaps run into another airport such as Leeds Bradford.

Thats what i was thinking as well mate.

PIA could run say a Lahore-Leeds-Glasgow-Lahore service with a B777. It would fill up the cabin quite nicely as a duel load. A B777 would get off LBA's short runway as it would only require a light fuel load to get to GLA as well.

 

[kakram128]

:whiteflag: Firstly i suggest that the Pakistani Community both in Midlands and Scotland put pressure on PIA to re instate a new service to Lahore Pakistan.

The best route would be Glasgow - Birmingham - Lahore
Lahore - Birmingham - Glasgow

:dirol: Demand in both hubs and locations is high for Pakistan Lahore Link- It would help the two cities both Glasgow, and Birmingham to trade with Pakistan Lahore meet the target market needs and notice high passenger loads from the UK

PIA could use the B777 - B747 if wish on the route to improve the Airbus service as serviced previously at Glasgow and currently in Leeds Bradford.

This would be a start of many, and we must request Air Blue to start competitive flights to Pakistan from Birmingham UK.

Shaheen Air must be encouraged to start UK Birmingham Karachi and Lahore service.

Demand for Lahore and Krachi is very high in the Midlands the location with easy access, and easily to get to for both East-West Midlands and Pakistani Community of Luton, and Cardiff.

Demand is very High * Having only Islamabad still passenger needs are not being met-

PIA when launched the * Manchester-Karachi-Lahore service it was promoted in Coventry Road at the Al Hamra Centre and was a service atleast ten years ago for midlands economy and businesses from Manchester.

PIA are having a large Passenger Loads of Midland Passengers still travelling from Manchester.

I am sure that the Mirpuri Community put pressure for a Islamabad Birmingham sector service; now we must unite with Glasgow and request a Punjab service.

* To all Glasgow Community i spoke to PIA KARACHI OFFICE the gentleman said that Birmingham is the best idea and alot of common sense to re-instate the Lahore Service and fly through Birmingham to receive a larger passenger load and PIA don't fly to Lahore from Birmingham and demand is there and the city and surrounding have largest Pakistani Community in the country.

The gentleman adviced me to write to head office in Karachi-

Every Body do this get the address from PIA website thank you.

I hope we in Birmingham and Glasgow receive a PIA - LAhore service. :dirol:

 

[lbaspotter]

Good news. (PIA) Pakistan International Airlines are restarting direct flights from Glasgow to Lahore in Pakistan from July.

Flights will be operated 2x weekly on the airlines Boeing 777-200 aircraft operating via Frankfurt in both directions.

 

[airbus]

there is nothing about the new flights on pia or glasgow airport websites and if it is true thay r leving it very late to announce it