Pakistan International Airlines

[ls27]

Is there a problem with one of the airbridges? I have notice that last Saturday and tonight Pia have used steps at the front end and not the airbridge, or are thy practicing for the 777

 

[ls27]

According to another forum, the station manager for PIA has confirmed that the airline will pull out by the end of the year. Shades of what happened at Glasgow!

 

[Aviador]

I had also had similar conversation with the gentleman. He didn't go as far as to say they were to pull out of LBA but he did say the Boeing 777 wouldn't be coming to Leeds anytime soon. I refer back to my previous post for a my synopsis of the future of PIA at LBA here.

 

[Jordan-34092]

That airline is no longer worth the trouble if this is what they intend to do, say one thing to the airports and then do the other and pull out, no wonder there considered a bad airline, good riddance to bad rubbish i say.

 

[LeedsPilot]

I agree, they clearly have no forward planning strategies in place as they just seem to "go with the flow" and change their minds about things all the time. Servisair already have the equipment so I can't see them being too pleased about this either. In the short term there won't be much loss of revenue for the airport but in the longterm is could put off other airlines looking to start long haul routes.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Let's just pray continental airways have got an heart.

 

[LeedsPilot]

Let's just pray continental airways have got an heart.

That's exactly what I was thinking! Or Emirates for that matter.

 

[tleeds]

Emirates and Continental are the airlines that the airport wants, but realistically in the short-term, I think the airport needs to focus its efforts on sustaining its current operations and gradually growing it's route network.

Back to PIA anyway..

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well i say good riddance with PIA and the route, there an unreliable airline, i know it will be bad news for the airport but im glad an unreliable airline is going.

 

[Aviador]

Concorde Lover

I think you are getting a little bit ahead of yourself here. Things might not be looking very good for PIA at LBA but as Tomleeds has said, until we hear something from PIA we can't say they 'are' leaving LBA. It will be disapointing if they do leave but they haven't officially said that yet.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well i don't trust them that is for sure look what happened at Glasgow. And to be honest they will want to drop it so that they can get rid of the A310 aircraft so they can gain the A320 aircraft which they are currently after, the A310 aircraft are one of the reasons it is being held back.

 

[Aviador]

Admittedly PIA do seem to operate with knee-jerk reactions but the airline comes from a third world country and it is funded by the Pakistan government who probably pull the strings.

I wouldn't totally rule out the PIA conducting a Boeing 777 trial at LBA, but these conspiracy theories suggesting Servisair are hiding container pods so nobody knows when the 777 might turn up is laughable. Believe you me, when or if PIA ever bring the Boeing 777 into Leeds, you will know about it.

Take a look at the Birmingham airport forum to see the kind of media coverage when Emirates conducted a trial flight with the Airbus A380 there. A Boeing 777 arriving at Leeds Bradford wouldn't exactly make the same kind of media rush, but it would attract some positive and worthwhile local media attention.

 

[White Heather]

To be honest, it makes no sense at all for PIA to stop taking bookings and finally admit they were pulling out of LBA in June, only to then reverse the decision and stay, announcing they looked forward to developing their operations further from LBA, and then, just 2 months later, decided to withdraw yet again.

Personally I would take no notice at all of a Station Manager and I will believe they are pulling out only when they stop taking bookings again or the airline formally announces a withdrawal.

It is just a shame that they can't dump the A310's and lease some half decent 767's or A330's which can still fly the distances and can use LBA more easily than the 777. I can't believe that LBA is the only airport they serve that would struggle with a 777 but where the route demands something bigger than an A320 for example. For an International carrier, their fleet choices seem to be somewhat lacking compared to many airlines.

 

[White Heather]

In case anyone was wondering, tonigh's PIA775/6 was operated by A310 AP-BEG according to Flight Radar. It is running slightly late and landed at LBA at 1830.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well it does look like the 777 won't be making an appearance this Wednesday at all. I had a little look on flight status and it showing the flight to be operated by an A310, why am i not surprised that the 777 is a no show, with an airline like PIA you can never be so sure what they will end up doing next.

 

[Moo2009]

AP-BEG tonight

 

[Nightflight]

Yes indeed it is AP-BEG a310...such a shame as i was really hoping for the 777, which of course may never fly into Leeds.....even though i know the likely hood of the 777 is unlikely, i cant help but hope that one day it will happen, hopefully i will still be around to see it.... :dunno:

 

[ls27]

Still no luck again, it looks like AP-BEC A310.

 

[Nightflight]

Still no luck again, it looks like AP-BEC A310.

Yes i noticed, but what can we do, apart from be disappointed all the time....

 

[Seasider]

Don't be disappointed, the flight is still operating!