If the agreement works and pays off, PIA could come out of its financially shaky situation.
KARACHI: PIA and Turkish Airlines have agreed to a memorandum of understanding for a code-sharing arrangement. This is not a new thing in the airlines industry and in the past, several airlines have entered into such agreements with each other. The idea is to provide expanded travel destinations to passengers while, at the same time, cutting costs.
According to the proposed deal, passengers flying on PIA will be able to travel to any of Turkish Airlines’ 130 destinations. And this will be in addition to PIA’s own 40 international destinations. In the past, the national airline had relied on government largesse to help bail it out, but this time, at least it is trying some solutions out on its own and it should be encouraged.
If the agreement works and pays off, PIA could come out of its financially shaky situation and, in that regard, it may well be a blessing in disguise.
Mohammad Khan Sial
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2011.
