Pakistan International Airlines

[Aviador]

[warning]Hi guys and gals

Time to move on.

Concorde Lover you've had your say please leave it there. Everybody knows how you feel about PIA now. You need to move on before it starts to look more like some kind of vendetta as opposed to a meaningful discussion.

Administrator & Moderator team.[/warning]

 

[lbaspotter]

Aviador after reading through some of the stuff that's been posted on this thread over the past couple of days and weeks, I honestly think we should go one step further for a change and close down this thread altogether.
That's my personnel opinion. I know as moderators we don't normally close/lock down threads on this forum. But on this occasion I think we should maybe take a stance.

By closing down this current thread we can start a fresh with a new one opened to continue discussions regrading PIA and its LBA operation. Another reason for doing so is that the impending airspace ban by the EU has also been lifted within the last couple off days. So it looks like PIA will have a future at LBA even though they seem to be suffering with quite a few delays just off late.

Anyway I'll leave it with you to decide to what to do next.

 

[Aviador]

Aviador after reading through some of the stuff that's been posted on this thread over the past couple of days and weeks, I honestly think we should go one step further for a change and close down this thread altogether.
That's my personnel opinion. I know as moderators we don't normally close/lock down threads on this forum. But on this occasion I think we should maybe take a stance.

By closing down this current thread we can start a fresh with a new one opened to continue discussions regrading PIA and its LBA operation. Another reason for doing so is that the impending airspace ban by the EU has also been lifted within the last couple of days. So it looks like PIA will have a future at LBA even though they seem to be suffering with quite a few delays just off late.

Anyway I'll leave it with you to decide to what to do next.

Hi Lbaspotter.

The threat of the "impending airspace ban by the EU" might have been lifted for the time being but the EU have still sighted issues that are still an ongoing concern so this has not suddenly disappeared off the radar by any means. As such it is still something worthy of discussing here. Equally, the PIA scheduling problems and subsequent delays remain an issue particularly with the ISB-LBA route.

I don't see the point of starting a new thread and stopping people from discussing current issues that are effecting the normal running of the airlines operation from LBA.

However, as I mentioned previously I do feel it is time to move away from discussing issues without good reasoning. Everybody is entitled to an opinion and if somebody dislikes something it's good to hear genuine reasons why they have come to such a conclusion.

Needless to say this doesn't mean users should be allowed to go on a verbal tirade so let this be a warning to users not to continue in such activity.

Administrator

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Perhaps Aroosh could shed some light on PIA ops and, potentially, why there seems to be such a lateness issue with the route? I rather suspect that it may have something to do with the fact that PIA will have been dealing with the EU ban threat and bringing their fleet up to code. After all, it is quite difficult to repair planes whilst they are in the sky.

The news that an EU ban will not go ahead is good to the extent that the ISB route can now continue with (a somewhat uneasy) comfort. However, with the threat of a ban still hanging over PIA like fog over Heathrow, it is still very much an issue that is of great interest to LBA/PIA and continued conversation has a rightful place here. I believe that the route is of great importance to the future of Medium/Long haul from LBA. If the route is able to continue and be a success comercially, it may attract further inward investment. Equally, if the route were to fail, it could set back longer ops from LBA for some years.

Concorde lover - I fully appreciate, as will many, that you see the PIA situation from a different angle. However, your revelation that you have made noise complaints about them betrays a somewhat deeper disaffection for the airline/airport than simply voicing your opinion here and I can't help wondering whether you would go to such efforts to discredit another airline using similar equipment. Indeed, your title of "Concorde Lover" would suggest that you are quite fond of the louder aircraft.

There is, undoubtedly, a problem at this time for whatever reason. Certainly, they need to sort it out - and quickly. Further destabalisation will not help the situation and PIA should act quickly to solve that particular issue. Here's to hoping they do and that LBA gets a regular, reliable, long lasting service of benefit to the whole community.

 

[User0001]

I believe that the route is of great importance to the future of Medium/Long haul from LBA. If the route is able to continue and be a success comercially, it may attract further inward investment. Equally, if the route were to fail, it could set back longer ops from LBA for some years..

I suspect not. It's an oddity in that it serves a point to point market, whereas most regional long-haul out of the UK is built around feeding hubs and onward connections. No one is really travelling to places like Doha, Abu Dhabi, Atlanta or Washington- or even Dubai for that matter in numbers to make many of these services work as stand-alone routes - connecting traffic is between 80% - 90% on most them. The last time I was in Dubai, there were about 20 of us in baggage reclaim in Dubai and the other 440 odd passengers from BHX simply went straight into the transfer area. Having been 5 times, that's always the case.

The success or failure of one point to point route serving a large local ethnic market shouldn't have any bearing on whether you could persude someone - in the next 5 - 10 years - to open up a feed into a connecting hub somewhere East or West of the UK. It will be the usual talking points about airline strategy, fuel costs, aviation tax, airport handling restrictions and our old friend, the economy, that will be at play here.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I refer more to the ability of LBA to handle such operations than the point to point nature of this one particular route. I am not naive enough to believe that LBA could open up a point to point route to many other long haul destinations. But, let's say PIA did eventually upgrade to 777, suddenly the ability of LBA to effectively deal with such operations would be more obvious to the world and become more desirable as a result. Not only that, the choice of pax to use LBA rather than Manchester for their flight to Pakistan highlights the ability of the airport to attract pax away from a more traditional international departure point which further increases the desirability of the airport.

It is far more complicated than simply saying "this works, so will this" and, I assure you, I make my comments with a very keen eye on reality. This is why I class the route as important for the future of longer haul ops from LBA as, essentially, it is the first properly dedicated long haul scheduled route. If it can succeed and acheive longevity, the risk to opening other routes, once thought impractical or illogical, will become substantially lowered, regardless of the type of passenger on board. It takes that one initial daredevil to take a chance before the rest follow.

 

[lbaspotter]

Well it looks like PIA maybe taking notice. As there is no complaining about delays on this afternoon's inbound PIA775 service from Islamabad. As Airbus A310, AP-BDZ is running bang smack on time today for a change.

 

[aroosh]

to shed some light on the delays,currently, and since some months now, the A310 fleet has been running a little short on aircraft. This is primarily due to a lack of spares, and replacement engines in particular with a third of the fleet (if you can call 12 airplanes that) parked. This means no spare aircraft and any sort of delay be it technical or operational becomes difficult to cover up and streams down for days on end.

As far as the SAFA/EU ban goes, what went into effect a few months ago was only a ban on the certification of PIA's maintenance facilities with regards to EU aircraft. IE PIA can no longer provide maint to EU reg a/c.

As far as the haters go, if anyone saw how the rest of the country was running, theyd only be asking how PIA only has such few delays.

Onto busines, ill be flying into LBA on the 16th evening, and departing on the 19th. Would love it if someone with a big zoom could get some cockpit closeups and id love to put up a small sign/hello in the window. Any ideas on what it should say?

 

[lbaspotter]

aroosh: Can I just say thank-you for your up to date information regarding PIA's current situation. It is good to know that you are willing to come on a public forum like this and speak out for your employee.

I do hope you continue to keep us all informed on here, As the information is very much appreciated.
Yes they are some nay-sayers out there who dislike PIA and complain when anything goes wrong or when flights are delayed, But that is how all airlines work when running a tight schedule and having to suffer with tech aircraft.
But I also know there are many members on here that will continue to support PIA's operation from are local airport through think and thin.

I hope you have a good trip up to Leeds on Wednesday and hope you enjoy your stay before heading back out on Saturday evening. I wont be around to help you out with getting photos of your aircraft. But seen you have asked I guess they maybe other members who might be able to help you out.

Kind regards. Ross

 

[ls27]

I read somewhere the other day that the authorities ar Heathrow had warned PIA of its punctuality, and that if it did not improve the slots would be lost.

 

[lbaspotter]

I read somewhere the other day that the authorities ar Heathrow had warned PIA of its punctuality, and that if it did not improve the slots would be lost.

Yes you are right ls27. If I understood correctly it was something to do with the Olympic's and the extra traffic that been generated along with airspace restrictions round London at the time of the Games been held. They have been warned to be on time during the Olympic Games or they face been refused permission to land at Heathrow due to missing there slot times.

But before this goes off topic shouldn't this have be posted on the PIA thread in the London Heathrow forum. As what has it got to do with Leeds/Bradford?

 

[aroosh]

So looks like there is a chance of a T7 at Leeds after all. Might be sooner than expected.

 

[lbaspotter]

So looks like there is a chance of a T7 at Leeds after all. Might be sooner than expected.

I know you might not be to say much more about it, But can you tell us what you have heard about PIA bringing the T7 to Leeds Aroosh?

Also what were the passenger loads like on yesterdays flights?

 

[Nightflight]

Nothing like having your appetite wetted is there!!!
i hope a T7 is on the cards very soon, and i hope it comes in at a time that is convenient for most of us to get to the airport, i would love to see it come in and take off, with camera in hand i wait in anticipation.... :yahoo:

 

[EX9]

On the 16th May 107 flew out

 

[tleeds]

107...?! That doesn't sound like much to be filling an A310!

Is there a reason why the figures are quite low?

 

[aroosh]

We flew in with 175 on board. Economy was full. Business empty.

Anyone spotting on Saturday at departure?

 

[EX9]

I will be around and about for departure.

 

[aroosh]

Taking pics? Got a nice zoom?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Well Aroosh, I have to say, I was going to make a special journey to see you on your way. However, with the projected delay on the flight today, I am not going to be able to make it.