PIA is in dire need of new airplanes. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is in the process of acquiring 12 narrow bodied, fuel efficient airplanes which will enable the airline to offer better services to its customers.
With these purchases, PIA aims to save on fuel and maintenance costs as currently the airline's fuel cost is close to 60% as compared to the industry average of 35%.
Managing Director of PIA, Muhammad Junaid Yunus made the announcement at the 56th annual meeting. The meeting was presided over by Hussain Lawai, Senior Member of the Board of Directors, held in Karachi. Board Member Javed Akhter was also present.
PIA shareholders appreciated the present management's role in maintaining the airline operations with the current fleet constraint and frequent change of management. They demanded consistency and continuity of management to implement their plan effectively to achieve desired results.
Junaid Yunus said the airline is in dire of new airplanes for its fleet.
Hussain Lawai said PIA will be getting four new narrow body airplanes on lease from its own resources and no further loans will be needed. He added a complaint cell will be established with active participation of the shareholders.
Later, the shareholders approved the annual accounts for the year 2012.
COMMENTS (14)
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An Airline that doesnt have money for fuel, is buying new planes that will save on fuel. Soon PIA will invent buckets in which you can lift up while standing in them.
PIA's office staff is terrible. I recently flew on PIA after maybe 15 years and here is what happened: I had an adjustment done on my ticket which entitled me to a 3000 rs refund. I asked the person at the airport counter who adjusted my ticket if I need some paperwork to claim the refund from my travel agent. The person (whose name is logged in the system) said no its in the system, just ask them and they will refund. I went to my travel agent, and he said he needs an MCO or else he cant refund. I called the PIA 111 number and the lady said I need to go back to the airport to get the paperwork and they cant help me out. I said that I want to talk to a manager and she said that no manager is present and that they cant help me out (this is the HELPline, mind you!). I was running late for my flight so I asked my father to talk to the staff at the airport the next time I was flying and they gave the go around to my father also by not giving the MCO and saying that they can give other paperwork (which is worthless as per my agent). Now, Im left Pakistan (I do not live in Pakistan anymore) and was robbed 3000 rs. Its not the money that bothers me but the fact that even after complaining about the people who were giving me the go around (whose name is logged in the system so they can be easily tracked), nothing was done to bring them to answer for what they did.
PIA Admins: Stop wasting precious tax money and make your staff accountable. They are stealing the public's money and apparently no one cares to bring them to their senses!
@NA: Cynical question but well placed. many a times ET does not know what it is printing. The fuel cost is sixty percent of the total expenses. Salams
We sincerely hope that PIA will start ridding of its over abundant reserves of 'freeloaders.' Salams
They need good maintenance (which cannot be provided due to safarish driven recruitment) not new planes.
Unless PIA is depoliticized,unions/associations reined in, professional management is brought in to run the Airlines, right sizing & right people for the right places is done,no improvement can be brought about.Merit & only merit should be the criteria of appointments & promotions. Above all political interference be stopped forth with, only then some positive results can be achieved.The entire top management & officers/staff on foreign postings are political nominees,hence down fall.If the PM is once again inclined to appoint sitting MNA as MD or full time Chairman,it will cause further damage to the organization. Leasing of new aircrafts is a good idea,but their maintenance & the inflight service should be at par with international standards as PIA used to have.One can only wish good luck to the Airlines as they carry Pakistan flag all over the world!!
I once went to PIA ticketing office in Rawalpindi Mall road and all I could see inside the building were portraits of Zardari, Benazir, Bilawal and ZA Bhutto. I am sure they have now replaced them with portraits of Nawaz Sharif, his brother and stuffed tiger or lion.
PIA needs to replace these type of portraits rather than airplanes.
How about slashing the inefficient staff and the overpaid pilots and actually making some true cost savings on PIA operations?
@Syed Hasan Atizaz: I am 99.999% sure that they are A320. Secondly, it is time to fire all political appointees from previous era who know nothing of Aviation industry and drink 'chai' all day long with there buddies and make plans to make quick money by looting the Govt or Pax.
This company should be privatised. I hope NS does this soon.
60% of what, there total annual budget?
i hope and pray it would be airbuses. :)
Its always easier for management to blame the planes for inefficiencies with total disregard to the factors that really make PIA a bottomless pit.
I would suggest that PIA management investigate other avenues to plug the cash hemorrhaging. These include over staffing, unlimited and lifetime benefits to employees and their families, pilferage & wastage. There will be other factors but these come immediately to mind.
The impact to bottom line from improving these will outweigh any benefit gained from buying to leasing "fuel efficient" aircraft. But the impact to bank balances of people making decision to buy new aircraft will be significant.
And this will make travelling better for passengers, how? If its the same deadbeat staff on the planes what will change? Management needs to change!
Everybody's idea of improving PIA is "just buy new planes". Is it because of the commissions involved? Why doesn't any MD say that we will improve PIA by ruthless accountability of our workforce, and by right-sizing our workforce, so that our customers are happier, and our costs come down.