Pakistan International Airlines

[rmac]

Thanks White Heather and others for your comprehensive and fascinating answers.
It certainly looks as if waiting for the B787 and others is the future answer. Again thanks.

 

[Jordan-34092]

I think it also down to engine power the engines on the 777 are quite powerful so this will help get the aircraft airborne from Leeds Bradford.

 

[lbaspotter]

Judging by the press release which was issued on the airport’s website yesterday it looks like our Islamabad PIA775/776 service will be operated by the airlines 329 seated Boeing 777-200ER. As the press release states that they will offer 35 Business class seats and 294 Economy. So AP-BGJ, AP-BGK, AP-BGL & AP-BHX will be the aircraft coming to LBA.

PIA also have 2x Boeing 777-200LR in service AP-BGY and AP-BGZ which seat upto 310 passengers and could maybe appear overtime. Also PIA own 3x larger 393 seated Boeing 777-300’s AP-BHV, AP-BHW and AP-BID which will most likely never appear unless they have serious tech problems or aircraft shortage...

 

[Jordan-34092]

What about the possibility of the 747-300s? these are used to cover routes when there is a real shortage? 747-300 at leeds, would it work? can it be done?

 

[LUFC Jonno]

You never know but I don't think it's going to happen. Do PIA operate the B747-300 on flights to the UK anymore?

 

[lbaspotter]

What about the possibility of the 747-300s? these are used to cover routes when there is a real shortage? 747-300 at Leeds, would it work? can it be done?

I understand that PIA's remaining Boeing 747-300's now mainly only operate sub continent routes and Hajj charter flights to Saudi Arabia. So they don't venture up to Europe that often now-a-days.

Yes LBA can handle the Boeing 747-300 series aircraft. French Airline Corsair actually used one along with 2nd Boeing 747-200 back in 2000 when Leeds Utd played against Barcelona FC in the Champions League

 

[Jordan-34092]

Hope one does make a show at leeds even if it is just once, would be a great photo opportunity, always wanted to see a 747 at LBA.

 

[G-CELB]

was justing going to bed in Horsforth near new road side when I heard it whining as it spooled up for take off, it was quiet noisy, must have been the wind carrying the sound!

I live in Eldwick, near Bingley. Pretty much everything except flights to Ireland come right over the house at about 6,000ft as they climb-out from a 32 take off.

I would think though that those landing distances will be based on a particular landing weight, so if the aircraft is not fully loaded, it may stop more quickly.

I've been at LBA a couple of times just after PIA775 landed. Those planes always seem full to bursting with almost everyone who comes off pulling a trolley with about five huge cases on! That 777 is going to be seriously heavy!! I don't think there's any chance of one turning up not fully loaded.

 

[lbaspotter]

Those planes always seem full to bursting with almost everyone who comes off pulling a trolley with about five huge cases on! That 777 is going to be seriously heavy!! I don't think there's any chance of one turning up not fully loaded.

Well hopefully them B772 will have a full load of pax and a belly load of cargo onboard. Its what both PIA and LBA's managerment will want see happen if they are going to fight back at Air Blue. We don't want PIA coming here just for fun of it flying half empty aircraft on 7 hour flights and risk losing the route, do we?

 

[Jordan-34092]

Hopefully we will see a twice weekly to Karachi soon, that way we got both sides of pakistan covered from lba Islamabad for the north and karachi for south.

 

[bobleeds]

"I don't think there's any chance of one turning up not fully loaded"

I don't think a full load of passengers will cause a major issue with landing weights as fuel will have been calculated from Islamabad and the aircraft will be almost empty of fuel (plus reserves) on arrival.

 

[a300boy]

The landing distance needed as has been said before is for the MAX LANDING WEIGHT of the aircraft. The aircraft would only land above that weight in an emergency and if the crew have any sense not at Leeds. So yes it is likely to be landing at weights up to max landing weight as this is the commercial reality. Just for white heather, the thrust reversers are not considered for landing performance but as she said they would be a big extra stopping device until around 80 kts when they become very inefficient and are normally stowed to prevent debris entering the engines from the runway.

 

[Aviador]

Apparently, PIA expect to see a significant increase in freight such as Mango's etc.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Always the mango's Alot of the cargo from LBA - ISB is fridges so it wouldn't surprise me if there on the up too.

 

[aroosh]

Looks like march will be the month for the 777 into LBA. Hope there's a big turnout to see her come in.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Do you fly the 777s aroosh or is it just the A310?

 

[White Heather]

I guess that the mangos come here heading for Bradford where they will be converted into my favourite mango chutney, so they can bring as many as they like it the hold of the 777. It is disappointing that the YEP seems not to have bothered to run the story about the upgrade - or if they did they hadn't bothered to load it into their online version up to yesterday.

 

[Bhowani]

No comment in the YP today, either, that I have seen.

The A310 has taken offence: it landed EXACTLY at 1607, the predicted ETA, and EARLY!

All good trade for us!

Bhowani

 

[752]

Would it ever be an option to route the flight out to New York like they do at MAN which has been recently transferred to Shannon, is it possible? or would another weekly flight be more viable first

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Would it ever be an option to route the flight out to New York like they do at MAN which has been recently transferred to Shannon, is it possible? or would another weekly flight be more viable first

Let's walk before we run eh? I have always said that the key to the ongoing success of this route is moderation - as would be the case with any long haul route, especially from LBA. The route has been the subject of constant speculation since it returned with PIA and it has continued to operate despite all the nay-sayers, issues with the PIA fleet and having fallen foul of local noise restrictions on numerous occasions. The route has now had an aircraft upgrade despite all the negativity surrounding its suitability to operate at LBA even though, time and again, the numbers show it to be more than possible.

Whatever anyone may think of this route, it has continued to improve and, with time, it may continue to improve further. What we don't need to do now is rush the development of the route by saying it should go through to Toronto or New York or going 3 times weekly or extra links to other destinations. The current upgrade needs to be supported and, as and when it is proved to be sustainable, then it will be reasonable to start looking at what the next step is.

I have said it before but, In my opinion, this route is vital for LBA if a more expansive, sustainable long haul operation is to be considered. It is one thing having an amount of success with an A310. There are not many of this aircraft in service with airlines that you would be looking to attract. Success with a T7 is an entirely different kettle of fish. So let's give it the opportunity it requires to be a success before heaping on unrealistic expectation.