Business

PIA MD says only 4% passengers will be shared with Turkish Airlines

PIA defends proposed alliance between PIA and Turkish Airlines, says move will help regain lost passengers.

Express February 03, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director Capt Mohammad Aijaz Haroon has defended the proposed alliance between PIA and Turkish Airlines, saying PIA would be sharing only four per cent of its passengers with the Turkish carrier.

Haroon said as a result of the alliance PIA would regain its lost passengers who travel to Europe and America through Gulf airlines. Gulf carriers take away Pakistani passenger revenues of around Rs35 billion and if PIA succeeds in reclaiming only 10 per cent of the market, it would be earning Rs3.5 billion annually, he claimed.

“PIA operations will not shrink instead our operations will grow further with revenues,” he stressed. PIA passengers can take daily flights to 100 destinations with one stop-over at Istanbul, as PIA will fly daily flights to Istanbul from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

With the increase in operations after the proposed agreement, PIA can utilise its present workforce, which is the highest in the world compared to the number of aircraft.

Replying to a question, the PIA MD said he has proposed a joint venture to the government and now it is up to the government what way it chooses. “It seems that Turkish Airlines has got green signal from its government. Let’s see when our government approves it.”

Equity injection needed

PIA has told the government that without equity injection, financial woes of the air carrier will continue. PIA can turn into a profitable organisation in the next four years if the government injects equity today.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

Nazeer Tahir | 13 years ago | Reply For All interested in Airline Building The way the issue is handeled is not in the interest of Corporation. Airline already facing cash flow problem. Loss of additonal 5 billion just for nothning. Mature people sit on table and resolve their issue. Conflict and fighting are never profit oriented. What has happened is happend now people of PIA should think and plan for their survival. All stakeholders should share and prove thatt they realy are loyal to Airline. Selfless working and examplary sacrifies are needed or forget this National flag Airline.

syeda | 13 years ago | Reply I think its high time we realize which job suits what qualification.An MD must know how to manage things. The PIA MD has shown what approach he follows when it comes to resolving issues!! this is the time when he needs to act wisely try to have a corporate meeting with the employees, instead of bringing the entire police force & treating employees like animals.. I have studied employement law & according to that employees have rights, to enforce their opinion if its not a harm for employers. just because the MD is pally with president asif ali zardari, does not give him the power to do what he feels like. Its high time public realizes their strength, which can bring a revolution.STANDUP ; FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT!!!