In the past, directors were allowed to take free seats on any domestic and international flight. PHOTO: FILE
In the meeting that was also attended by Adviser on Aviation to the Prime Minister Shujaat Azeem on a special invitation the board said that the move will set a good precedence for others.
In the past, directors were allowed to take free seats on any domestic and international flight. This privilege of past directors had also been taken away.
“It was felt by the new board that PIA is in dire financial health and as such in its very first meeting it will send a right signal to all PIA employees that they also need to realise the grave financial health of PIA,” the airline said in a statement.
Azeem briefed the board on future plans for the airline and said that the national carrier will be inducting new generation aircraft on dry lease very soon.
Acting Chairman and CEO Aslam Khaliq said that the airline was going through a very difficult period, but insisted that its human resource is experienced in the aviation industry.
He said that there is an urgent need to restructure PIA in every sphere, particularly the customer service and flight punctuality.
“The board, on its part, will help in inducting new generation fuel-efficient narrow-body aircraft to the fleet, which are required for more than 80% of the routes.”
This will improve PIA’s image, bring back customers’ confidence, enhance employee morale and increase occupancy levels.
Khaliq also announced that he will work for PIA without any emoluments.
The meeting was attended by Mian Muhammad Mansha, Arif Habib, Naseer NS Jafer, Malik Nazir Ahmed, Yousaf Waqar, Muhammad Ali Gardezi, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Sarfraz A Rehman and Managing Director PIA, Muhammad Junaid Yunus.
None of the directors are availing any other facility from the airline at the moment, an official confirmed. “They are all big names. They came to the meeting in their own cars,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (9)
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Free staff travel should also be abolished. Let the staff also contribute to revenue generating. Let them also pay for travelling internationally and domestically. Usually, they only pay taxes or even nothing. This policy must be changed. Let them also bring a sacrify to PIA. In Europe all airline staff pay a fare related to the distance in miles plus all airport taxes. The more further you travel, the more you pay. Let PIA introduce this zonal system for their staff travel. All major airlines in the world use this zonal system and it generates extra revenue to the airline.
And the subsidies to PIA employees and especially to their families should also be stopped. If a PIA employee can visit USA in the same fare as an ordinary person not even visit Islamabad then this is really unfair..
I don't know whether to laugh or cry. That should bring the airline back into black.
Stop giving free Electricity to KESC or WAPDA workers stop free rid on PIA for any its employees I have seen fifty percent flights goes with these begums..... do the same with Railway workers too.... save Pakistan babay ka.
You can't treat cancer with asprin................who are they fooling ?
Pia should get its employees to aircraft ratio right.I have been saying this to air India too but we are busy subsidizing them too.I took a air India domestic flight to Chandigarh from Calcutta and it was a good experience till I noticed my luggage trolley was spoilt by the handlers, at least the in-flight exprience was okay.I think the directors of pia would be ashamed to fly in pia so they forgo the free seats given to them. Rab rakha
In the private sector when the going get rough the senior management starts travelling in economy class and where possible resort to video conferencing to save travel cost. This step by PIA is symbolic. They need to cut the fat and fast to survive.
What took PIA board so long to realize this. This must have been real brainwave.
There are always big and reputable names on PIA board and supposedly educated. However, they continued to use the free tickets (i.e wives, kids and girl friends etc).
Now when do they expect to control the admin costs and union related costs. Hopefully it is not another board and a new government
“They are all big names. They came to the meeting in their own cars,”
Thank you for your continuing sacrifices.