Return of the British Airways

The British Airways (BA) decision to resume its flight operations in Pakistan has been welcomed in and outside the official circles. It is being interpreted as a reflection of the confidence of foreign investors in the improved security environment of the country. It was way back in September 2008 that the British Airways — citing security concerns — had suspended its flight operations in Pakistan in the wake of a terrorist attack on Islamabad’s Marriot Hotel which had left 50 people dead and another 250 injured. The decision on the British national carrier’s return to Pakistan was made public by the carrier’s head of Asia Pacific and Middle East Sales, Robert Williams, at a press conference on Tuesday. Also present on the occasion were the PM’s Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfikar Bukhari, and the PM’s Adviser on Commerce, Razzak Dawood, besides British Deputy High Commissioner Richard Crowder.

Starting from June 2019, the British Airways will operate three weekly flights between London and Islamabad which, according to Robert Williams, will especially benefit the Pakistani community living in Britain “who want to visit, or to be visited by, their relatives”. Besides a substantial number of Pakistani students pursuing their studies in British educational institutions, Britain is home to more than a million residents of Pakistan origin, who are compelled to travel mostly through Gulf-based airlines with stopovers in Doha, Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

The decision may have some adverse impact on the business of the national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines, which is already caught in a grave financial crisis but still operating some direct flights between the two countries. Now since other international airlines may follow the British Airways, the government must take corrective measures to ensure that the national carrier overcome its financial crisis and turn itself into a competitive organisation.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2018.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.