Pakistan International Airlines

[752]

Anybody noticed that PIA arrival destination is listed at Islamabad however the return flight is displayed as Lahore? It has been like this for a couple of weeks now, anybody know why?

 

[Jordan-34092]

I presume that's the final destination with a stop in Islamabad

 

[White Heather]

I believe that to be correct and that the aircraft continues on to Lahore after arrival at Islamabad.

 

[imagineif]

Well time for a rumour.....

PIA ending imminently ...

I give the source about 80% credibility with no sound reason to fabricate. Guess I will wait and see.

This rumour has done the rounds before!

 

[eastcoaster]

Well time for a rumour.....

PIA ending imminently ...

I give the source about 80% credibility with no sound reason to fabricate. Guess I will wait and see.

This rumour has done the rounds before!

Last flight 14th May. No more flights bookable or showing after this date. Looks like the end.

 

[lbaspotter]

Oh dear! but I suppose we all expected PIA to pullout due to the ageing A310's and reluctance to use the B777's some time sooner rather than later! It's just a shame they have decided to do this now as passenger figures on the route are at an all time high.

Is it just me, that things a really not looking good for the airports owners Bridgepoint Capital at the moment. Because if we keep on losing routes the annual passengers stats will drop under the 3 million pax figure again. Or Maybe it's the're new ploy to be able get some of that government funding?

But like I said yesterday! "Leeds loss is yet another gain for Manchester", It really does feel the the bad old days when the big airport over the hill poached all are services.

 

[eastcoaster]

It will be a loss of approx 30,000 pax per year. Not a good number to lose at the moment when we start to see the pax numbers flat lining this year.

 

[rmac]

Maybe this will encourage connections through Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, or even Pegasus. If so this might actually be better for the average passenger using LBA giving more options, especially if it was 4 or 5 flights per week.

 

[imagineif]

14th May was also a date suggested to me, the fact it is no longer bookable after that day compounds the rumour.

I am also told the 6 airworthy A310's are getting parked & will be sold or scrapped. Another reason for the route cancellation as they simply wont have the equipment to operate it any more.

 

[Moo2009]

Am sure the Airport management will be in talks with other airlines to fly this route

 

[lbaspotter]

Am sure the Airport management will be in talks with other airlines to fly this route

Yeah I agree that Tony Hallwood might be on the blower to other airlines, But who would or could possibly even think about taking the direct route over any time soon? I suspect he will more than likely now go after Turkish Airlines or fight (offering more incentives) for that proposed Pegasus Airlines Istanbul route that's up for grabs.
Also I wouldn't be surprised to find in the next few days that the Bradford travel agent who set up the Shaheen Air flights before PIA appeared at LBA will not be a happy bunny. I suppose he could always give Shaheen or Airblue a call!

 

[Aviador]

I don't think it's as simple as that. If they are indeed pulling out this time, we're still stuck with the same old problem of finding the right airline with the right equipment to operate from LBA's short runway. That's a tall order and I think it's one the airport wont be able to fulfil. It is of course PIA we're talking about too so I suspect the airport will still need to find out via social media sites before it can act.

 

[imagineif]

If only I had the money

Airbus A319 IAE Engines 138Y Config

LBA-IST-ISB - an hour in IST to uplift fuel

Low Cost Model!

3 Flights a week

 

[Aviador]

...nice thought but why would they having pulled the plug on both Manchester and Birmingham?

 

[User0001]

I honestly don't see who could come to the rescue on a direct LBA-ISB route now.

Shaheen seem to have gone shy on long haul, Air Blue seem to be on the verge of giving up completely (the A340's have gone and they have recently offloaded 4 A319's), and PIA, the one airline that seems like it doesn't care if it makes money or not, has given up the route.

In terms of other carriers, I only see Pegasus as an outside shot, given MAN/LPL/LBA are touted by them as desirable for a flight. Turkish have bigger fish to fry in terms of the fact they have a list of destinations that they wish to serve, so would imagine that has to be worked through, as well as expansion of existing routes, before LBA even gets a look in.

The MEB3 are a no-go for now, Emirates are fast phasing out the smaller aircraft, so just the B77L is staying in the fleet, which are all accounted for on required routes, and there is no way LBA could comfortably handle a B773.
Qatar are well tied up with aircraft issues. The B787 is quite delayed and causing issues, and like Turkish, have a list of destinations to add before LBA is considered.
As for Etihad, they have just doubled capacity over the hill, so would imagine they are set for the Northern England market for a while now.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Emirates are fast phasing out the smaller aircraft, so just the B77L is staying in the fleet, which are all accounted for on required routes, and there is no way LBA could comfortably handle a B773.

The A330's aren't due to be phased out completely unti the A350-900 comes into Service, so it doesn't fully rule it but if what i have heard about Emirates adding a 4th flight at MAN then there is no chance.

Another kick in the gut is that MAN have secured Cathy Pacific for a 4 times a week 777-300ER to HKG. Of course i know LBA ain't routing for this, but when MAN are securing another Long haul route whilst LBA loose there only schedule long haul flight, it doesn't help when your rival gains another long haul route.

 

[User0001]

The question is, will PIA replace some capacity at MAN? Northern England has lost a shed load of direct ISB capacity of late. PIA at MAN is a shadow of what it once was, Air Blue gone after 8 years of flights and now PIA pulling LBA.

Maybe showing just how bad the MEB3 have trashed a market?

 

[michael]

I wonder which airline will be the first to land a 787 at LBA? A shame the likes of Emirates seem to be going for ever bigger aircraft which negates any possibility of them visiting the likes of LBA. Could Air India be a possibility?? After all they have started taking the 787 to Birmingham - slim chances I know

 

[LBA787]

Turkish is now the only real option! Yes they set out a wish list a while back but business is business and when a good opportunity comes your way you take it. A 4 or 5 times a week 737/8 would be a perfect start and would do very well I'm quite sure.

The only other I could see in the future would be Qatar with their 788 but unfortunately i cannot see it happening with the state of the current infrastructure at LBA.

:crazy:

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I wonder which airline will be the first to land a 787 at LBA? A shame the likes of Emirates seem to be going for ever bigger aircraft which negates any possibility of them visiting the likes of LBA. Could Air India be a possibility?? After all they have started taking the 787 to Birmingham - slim chances I know

Does Thomson do the occasional winter cruise flight to such places as Barbados from LBA as it does from some regional airports? Airports that are smaller than LBA in some cases such as EXT, BOH and CWL have seen TOM B 767 operations on these flights for a number of years and they can be gradually be expected to switch to the B 787. If so that might be LBA's first B 787.