Leeds Bradford: Pakistan International Airlines

[White Heather]

One thing that puzzles me - we have had 6 days of cancelled flights due to the volcano, which resulted in 2 lost flights inbound, and 2 lost flights outbound. That is a maximum of around 370 passengers extra to fit on to future flights in each direction before normality is restored. So why does it take PIA until the 12th May to deal with these passengers? By then we will have missed 6 flights in each direction, and each flight will have a much larger capacity. It should not take 6 flights on a 777-300 to recover the situation with regard to LBA passengers. The figures do not stack up surely??

 

[User0001]

Because it is not just LBA that was affected. Passengers originally booked onto 777s to/from MAN & BHX during the 6 day lockdown need repatriating too. How many passengers might that be?

Considering PIA configure the 777-300 with 393 seats, then every time they use this instead of the A310 on the 775/776, it gives them a minimum of 209 seats each way to use for repatriation (and that assumes the original A310 was fully booked). So by operating 4 flights in each direction, 8 sectors in total, using a 773 instead of an A310, they have over 1600 extra seats. Presumably this allows them to cover the 2 missed LBA flights comfortably and gives them flexibility to get MAN and BHX passengers back as well. This is without considering any non-perishable cargo that is stuck awaiting uplift too.

 

[harehills]

Does anyone know if the 772LR and 772ER have the same takeoff performance reason i ask this is because it was the 772LR that was talked about for LBA but the problem with that is that PIA only have 2 772LRs in their fleet and i read somewhere on a PIA forum that PIA is only able to operate the 772LR on its US and Canadian routes because the Canadian route operates non stop both ways and US route operates non stop on the return leg and PIA only opted for the 772LRs to have the sufficient rest area for crew and pilots required for a long haul flight of that length of time. The rest of the 772s and 773s in PIAs fleet dont have that because PIA opted not to have that in the rest of the aircraft in the 777 family. The 772LRs were therefore busy in operating these flights and extra flights were operated to the US as US flights of PIA were also grounded. PIA didnt have 772LRs available to operate this route. and it wouldnt make sense for PIA to operate a 747 to LBA when it woukd need to go to MAN for refuelling when they could just send that aircraft to MAN anyway that would save time and money. PIA will be back at LBA with the A310s shortly. Hope that clarifies everything. unless the 772ER has the same takeoff performance in which case my post was a complete and utter waste of time in which case i apologise beforehand so if anyone could answer that question i would appreciate it.

 

[ls27]

According to poster on the dried plum web site, PIA will start 777-200 flights to LBA in June/July!

 

[Aviador]

I notice that the PIA website no longer gives aircraft type details, that is unless they have just moved it? They used to show the aircraft type page that shows the days of operation.

 

[backtrack]

Forgive me, as i have been away for the last 7 weeks, but have PIA now confirmed as of June/July they will operate the PK775/6 services to LBA using one of their B772's?

 

[Aviador]

No confirmation, just rumour and speculation. Hopefully White Heather will have some more news from the Consultative Committee meeting which was held today.

 

[White Heather]

Yes I have - no date has been confirmed yet by PIA for the change over to the 777, but it is still to happen. June/July could happen, but it is pure speculation. I am sure LBA would be very quick to publicise this change once it is confirmed in view of the brownie points for the airport and the pressure they are under from Leeds Council over the ongoing breach of night flying noise limits by the A310.

PIA will return to LBA from wc 8th May with the A310 following the completion of all their global repatriation flights.

 

[ex_crew]

Look forward to any news regarding this, hope we keep the route.
Thankful that we have people on here that can clarify speculation and facts.

 

[airbus]

will pia be flying into leeds bradford tomorow (12th of may) because it says on islamabad airport website that pk775/6 will be flying to manchesters

 

[jason1-11]

Its on the LBIA arrival boards, so will have to wait and see.

 

[ls27]

Last week the ISB board posted the flight to Leeds with an A310!

 

[ls27]

The ISB board now says Leeds with an A310.

 

[Bigman]

Interesting that it now shows an arrival time of 17:50. Hopefully this will sort out the late night issues.

 

[White Heather]

The A310 has been in, and gone out again 30mins ago, so it looks like things are back to normal again from today as the Ops Director confirmed at the recent consultative meeting

 

[ls27]

Four hours delay tonight. No doubt it will raise as few complaints!

 

[Aviador]

To be fair I don't think people tend to complain about it anyway. The problem arises because it breaks the local night flying restriction departing between the hours of 2300 and 0700. So if any complaints were to follow they are likely to come from the council rather than the public.

 

[White Heather]

This would never have happened when the Council ran the airport - noisier aircraft than this regularly took off after hours when delayed and nothing was said. It is just the council making sure that Bridgepoint know that they are not going to be able to ignore the planning regulations and there will be a lot of political posturing over this type of thing. It will also bring pressure to bear on PIA to upgrade the aircraft type sooner rather than later, although it is hoped this does not back fire and lead to them pulling out of LBA - something neither the airport, PIA, or any of the local councils will want.

 

[pilot_737]

So they are making themselves heard at the council, but when they controlled LBA they kept stum?

Sums up politics.

 

[White Heather]

Exactly. Same situation with the failure of the council to do anything about the roads, or surface access, but when Bridgepoint want to do the terminal, the Council put a gun to their head and insist that they include both as a planning condition.