ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines has requested the federal government to ensure that the national carrier remains the primary airline to transport Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
In a letter to the interior secretary, PIA's managing director wrote that last year, the government had approved four airlines to take Hajj flights - including PIA.
He claimed that Hajj group operators took pilgrims through the other airlines - which resulted in a financial loss to PIA - and cancellation of a number of flights.
The MD said that PIA was fully capable of flying Hajj pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile sources say the government has initiated necessary action over the request.
Earlier this year, PIA struggled to cope with the rush of ferrying pilgrims from Saudi Arabia during the peak season of Ramazan.
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No body dare to right why international airline doing operations, as PIA don’t have enough plane and they losing 200 millions daily. This another corruption which every one know after it has been done. Shame on this government who don’t even leave Haj after eating all the zakat money from bailtul -mal!
It's called competition! Plus, I don't think any one with a sane mind would want to risk giving exclusive rights to an airline dogged of late by delays, technical problems, cancellations and mid-air emergencies. PIA needs to get it's house in order before asking for any more favours.
PIA's losses are in billions and are nearly quarter of the defence budget !! We conveniently thrash the defence sector spending but what about this big loss which is not even a spending (on acquiring assets) but a sheer loss due to a poorly managed airline. All we see on airports is the banners of the unions within PIA contesting for power. Customers give a damn about your labor unions and their agendas. We pay you to provide us the services on time and upto our satisfaction levels.
"He claimed that Hajj group operators took pilgrims through the other airlines – which resulted in a financial loss to PIA – and cancellation of a number of flights. I guess MD-PIA does not understand the concept of a free market system where competition rules supreme. If he is so concerned about PIA's financial losses due to competition, he should review PIA's operating policies, expenses, and fares. Bringing down the fares, raising safety standards, ensuring flights arrive and depart on time, improving service and customer service, and offering more routes are the only ways of becoming profitable in the aviation industry. So instead of whining, complaining, and demanding to be the exclusive carrier, PIA should improvise if not reinvent its business strategy and strive to be the airline it once used to be. PIA has the largest aviation infrastructure in Pakistan and state backing to become a profitable airline, the only thing lacking is the desire to serve customers better while competing for business legitimately. Add this missing element to the mix and you have Pakistan's best airline.