Pakistan

PALPA strike: Rangers deployed at Islamabad airport

PALPA workers protest against PIA's decision to give its Europe and US operations to Turkish Airlines.

Express February 08, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Regular flight operations restarted at the Benazir Bhutto International airport in Islamabad on Tuesday after Rangers had to push out protesting employees of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from there.

PIA fired six pilots today after they threatened to cripple the airline’s operations if the deal with Turkish Airlines was not called off.

Members of the Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA), whose president, Sohail Baloch, was one of those sacked, protested against both the airline’s agreement with Turkish Airlines and the firing of the pilots in Karachi.

At Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, two groups of PIA workers, one in favour of a strike and the other opposing it, clashed in the morning.

Later, at the Islamabad airport, rangers had to be deployed to avert any untoward incident after at least 18 flights were cancelled with hundreds of people facing delays.

Flights from Multan, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar were also cancelled.

The protestors have said they will continue the strike until their colleagues are reinstated and the PIA-Turkish Airlines deal called off. They have also threatened to go on a hunger strike if these demands are not met.

PIA has served show-cause notices to two PALPA leaders, Sohail Baloch and TM Rabbani, for instigating the employees to strike.

Background

PIA, under a joint venture and commercial arrangements with Turkish Airlines, had decided to provide daily link to over 100 international destinations from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad

A PIA spokesperson had earlier said that rumours regarding any strike call are baseless and that no agreement or MoU had been signed with Turkish Airlines as the agreement is subject to approval from the government and other regulatory authorities.

A press statement had said that routes are not owned by any airline and therefore cannot be sold or bought. PIA and TK have proposed a code share arrangement, which are being done by most airlines to increase profitability and enhance routes without incurring additional costs.

PIA’s Managing Director also recently said that if the proposed alliance is approved, PIA would only be sharing four per cent of its passengers with the Turkish carrier.

He said that 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.

COMMENTS (20)

arshad khalid | 13 years ago | Reply For the sake of one person MD Pia,govt destroy the staff and image of Pia employ in the world. Pia is the sign of dignity and honor for Pakistani peoples

abu yahya | 13 years ago | Reply i only think why a passenger flying from USA DIRECT TO pakistan would travel via Turkey,if they have to break journey then would prefer gulf airlines.Why not PIA makes hubs in USA and Europe e,g Paris and Newyork and code share with other airlines to passengers to hubs.Corruption is the main problem which has finished everyyhing in Pakistan

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moise | 13 years ago | Reply @Ali: Overstaffing, inefficiencies, kickback, corruption, govt's free flyers.

M. Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply All that this MD has given PIA is a daily loss of Rs 6 Crores per day, although as per PIA's own Corporate Reports available on their web the Load Factor is 76%, which is more than even Emirates, or Qatar or even Turk Hava Yollari. PIA fares are either more or same as those charged by these airlines. It buys fuel at the same price which these airlines are buying, yet it is going in a loss, while they are making profits. It is corruption and mediocrity within its top heavy management that have contributed to its decline. Look at the qualifications of PIA MD and compare it with the qualifications of CEO of Turk Haya Yollari or Emirates etc and you will see the difference. PIA losses have risen to over Rs100 Billion, although when he took over in 2008, the loss was Rs42 Billion. It has the worst regularity record in its history during the over two years of his tenure. Yes there is nothing wrong with Code Sharing, provided that is what was done. This is a unique deal, where PIA will cease operation to major routes in USA and key stations in Europe and in return all it will get is a commission for every passenger it feeds to Turkish Airline and nothing more. Any GSA will get commission if it sells a ticket, so why have an airline if it is going to do the jpb of a GSA..The routes are being given as goodwill, at least that is what has been agreed and signed. Obviously this smacks of an under hand deal. There is a long list of financial irregularities and controversies about this management. It would be better if the Govt of Pakistan were to sell PIA to Turk Hava Yollari for Rs 1, instead of this suicidal deal, which PIA's own finance dept has termed as not viable for PIA, because the losses will further escalate.

M. Tariq | 13 years ago | Reply PIA is going in a loss not because of less passengers or less revenues, but because of massive pilferages, kickbacks and corruption. What this management is trying to do with Turk Hava Yollari is not Code Sharing, but a virtual sell out of routes. Code Sharing is a different thing, so is joint venture. The issue PIA is surrendering routes and what has it got in return

Mastishhk | 13 years ago | Reply @ Clean Pakistan...R u serious...???? 3000-4000 employees /Air craft... Is PIA maintaining an army or an aircraft. I find these figures hard to digest !!!!!

aliya | 13 years ago | Reply Why is the guy in the photo wearing a shower cap?? p.s. I think if PIA is in fact becoming part of an Alliance .. its a cause to celebrate not strike ..why do we chop down our own feet every time ?

as | 13 years ago | Reply How long is this strike goin 2 be is it only in Pk.......is it lahore as well.........

sister | 13 years ago | Reply I really don't understand any politics let alone the complexities of Pakistani politics and literal politics they are. What I want to know is why the Pakistanis have to rely on strikes which never get them anywhere. you can guarantee that soon there will be tyres and 'dolls' being burnt but nothing will be done. I think it is high time that the population on Pakistan actually took a lesson from Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt and perhaps they will get noticed. What do I explain to my daughter and son who have learning disabilities that their daddy might be going to Pakistan on Thursday and who knows what the situation will be there and whether or not he will back on the date he has promised. Every politician should have a child with additional needs and then maybe they would understand. Shame on Pakistani politicians and more shame on PIA

Deen Sheikh | 13 years ago | Reply Another organisation plagued by over staffing, workers they can not get rid of due to thuggish political unionism in Pakistan. Pia has probably 1000s of surplus staff which cant be sacked due to political connections of the would be redundant.

K' | 13 years ago | Reply I'm departing from toronto airport via Etihad Airways tonight and I wonder if this strike has anything to do with Etihad Airways? Moreover, I hope I don't experience any delays or problems due to it. Comments please. Thanks

Ehsan ul Haq | 13 years ago | Reply Well the flag PIA jets carry on their tail always attracted me , and to many of expats here in Saudia, plus the In flight services of "Pakistani Food", plus the Direct Flights to destinations in Pakistan. But many people now are switching to other carriers even if they are providing connecting flights via dubai, qatar, abudahbi .. coz the land of the flag carried by PIA jets is more attractive than the flag it self. I too am canceling my ticket today of PIA and getting reservation from any other carrier coz i want to visit home .. cant wait on airport for our country mates sort out their problems and ruining our vacations. I want to be sure that I will be traveling .. Best of Luck Capt. Aijaz Haroon .. and PALPA

Mulla Toofhan | 13 years ago | Reply PIA needs to reorganize and restructure most of it's operations and services, Most of it's flight from N.America are full throughout the year and so is it's Domestic flts. The seepage of the revenue has to be stopped and additional staff laid off. PIA has the culture of upgrading friends and relatives to first class for free. Too many people are treated as VIPs also why are passenger are forced to buy Tkts through agents rather than online? There is no shortage of brains in the airline to pull it out of the mess but I guess their is no will.

Clean Pakistan | 13 years ago | Reply @Ali: The way I understand it, the number of employees per aircraft at PIA is in the 3000-4000 range, whilst it's 400-500 employees per aircraft at other airlines.... All PIA routes are profitable, except may a few domestic routes... It's the employees overhead that's killing the national carrier.... This is what a PIA regional manager told me a few months back.... It's obvious that to make PIA profitable, tough decisions need to be made. The same is true for railways and other public national organizations.

Ali2 | 13 years ago | Reply I agree with the above two commentators... as soon as we privatise it then a) there is no burden on Pak Taxpayers anymore and b) their service would automatically improve as they would have to compete to make a profit!

Wajeeh | 13 years ago | Reply The reasons for failure are quite obvious. They have given too much power to the staff who are obviously "Politically" supported by one party or the other (depending on who is in power). My family is stuck in ISB airport right now because this staff is so inconsiderate of other Pakistanis that one can only wish this is over as soon as possible so we never make the mistake again to travel with PIA. I love my country and i love the name PIA but i feel disgust over such staff members. Staff members who are merely fighting for their rights to be gangsters holding every PIA traveller in suffering. Pakistanis living abroad love to visit their families back home in Pakistan but sadly PIA destoys the pleasure of a vacation by making their travel painful. Never Again PIA! (with a very sad heart i say this)

Sharjeel Jawaid | 13 years ago | Reply Ali is absolutely right. The domestics flights also are full to capacity. There is something wrong somewhere within PIA.

MZ Hussain | 13 years ago | Reply PIA mostly flies captive passengers. Pakistanis settled abroad and those in country travelling abroad. Advantage PIA has on Northern American routes is that it flies direct to Canada and one stop with no a/c change to USA. This is most convenient for families with small children and middle age and elderly travellers. Sharing these with THY would be a great disservice to PIA as it would lose passengers. Personally, i would rather travel Emirates at a higher cost with stop over in Dubai rather than stopping at Istanbul. Dubai airport has a lot more to offer than Istanbul airport, easier connections and better airline aside. Code sharing means that both airlines fly the same route at agreed frequency and interval and FLT No of both airlines are used for the same flight. This generates cost saving and improves efficiency and profitability. For this arrangement to work both airlines ought to be of similar profile. Major difference between THY and PIA is in cabin service in that like Iran Air and Saudia, PIA is a dry airline ie it does serve drinks on board. Why would Europeans travel PIA. To me a Pakistani travelling frequently, PIA has better cabin service both in Business and Economy class as compared to THY. However, i must confess that my THY travel is limited to Karaci Istanbul sector only.

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply I simply fail to understand how PIA can make a loss with the virtually every plane flying from US, UK full. There are obviously some serious deficencies in the way the comapny is run. The earlier the comapny is privatised the better.

Haroon Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply Flag carriers worldwide are close downs, as the developed world cannot flag carriers which are dinosaurs nurtured at cost of the tax payers, and DFI's grants/subsidies. Pakistan is now away from the subsidy era with gradual removal on diesel, kerosene, electricity. Yes water is subsidized today, with huge burden on the utility for deficit, as no body thinks drinking water connection right inside your home cost money to the utility. Alliances are very old and logical reasoning for amortization of costs, optimisation of resources. PIA is sandwitched with the GCC carriers dominated by Emirates, Eitihad, Qatar, and other GCC states. Their investment portfolio towards development of mega investments in the history in infrastructure, aircrafts, human resources. Their costs are very low than PIA's, decision are made quickly. PIA being the first operator of Boeing 777 in the region could not capitalise on direct flights to Europe, Americas as no other airline in the region had these aircrafts. From Bangladesh, Japan, EU member countries, all flag carriers ran into heavy losses, and handed over to the private sector. Only the investments in GCC countries created huge demand of super jumbo aircrafts for backlog spanning from 5 to 8 years. Air travel has almost finished in Pakistan, due to suspension of air services. PIA has taken a great step in the interest of the airline, and CAA should follow the suit, to let international airport operators operate the Jinnah International Airport as Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, German airports and many which has brought success story, traffic, tourism, investment worldwide. There should be harmony betwen the administration and the staff, whether pilots, or ground staff.

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