PIA plans to increase the frequency of its profitable routes while loss making routes will be reviewed and would be closed if need arises. PHOTO: FILE
The Board of Directors of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to induct 10 narrow body new generation aircraft on a priority basis.
According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Department of PIA, advisor to the Prime Minister on Aviation Shujaat Azeem and PIA’s newly constituted Board of Directors have critically analysed passenger traffic over the last five years and the projected figures from International Air Transport Association (IATA) and local aviation advisers, and have decided to induct the new generation aircraft urgently.
According to the management, the step will facilitate domestic flights that have been put into jeopardy for a very long time due to non-availability of narrow body aircraft, and will bring down fuel costs by 28 – 30%.
They will also help improve the flight schedule of the airline. PIA plans to increase the frequency of its profitable routes while loss making routes will be reviewed and would be closed if need arises.
Azeem has said that all efforts are being made for the revival of the Pakistan International Airlines and the biggest challenge is to make it a profitable airline.
He said that the all efforts were being made for the revival of the airline in order to put it on a path of recovery within the next six months on the instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The Economic Coordination Committee in the first phase has approved a bailout package of Rs7 billion for the National Flag Carrier last week.
The newly constituted PIA Board of Directors have decided not to take any perks and privileges from the airline such as pay or free travel for employees and family members, a statement said.
Chairperson PIA Aslam Khalique has also announced that he would not draw any salary as the chairperson.
Azeem has said that the process of change had started in PIA, and that corruption, mismanagement, politics and nepotism would be rooted out.
He said that together with the highly skilled Board of Directors and the experienced and dedicated workforce of the national carrier, PIA would once again achieve new heights and the results of positive change will be visible in the near future.
COMMENTS (22)
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@Shahzad: Spot on.................but who's listening.
Stopping PIA means stopping free/discounted travel of Govt officials. That is the main cause of loss to PIA. It is working like welfare institution which should not be the case.
We do not get PIA tickets on the Net especially the International. When we buy them via "a travel agent" there are empty seats in the plane. Another must for PIA survival is to reduce the upper class fares and "ban" all employs and non-paying to use upper class, which brings in most cash for good airlines. If Pakistani culture and free loaders do not allow that then there should be only one class like many profitable airlines. In addition the food services should be discontinued in all flights that are short hops of 2-4 hours or less. People travel in the airline for comfort and not food. This way the number of staff on planes would be reduced with the theft of food as well.
pia is the best service of pakistan
Money spent on bailing out PIA is better spent on schools and hospitals. At least, the common man will get some benefit out of those.
Govt should get out of running an airline. PIA must be privatized . Period
Oi....I thought Fokkers' were history
PIA embodies corruption at its best. It is holding the entire country hostage to its corruption and incompetency by running these huge losses. Keep bleeding and keep asking the poor country to pay for your losses. How on earth do they keep running this lossy business when even small airlines are running profitable operations. Why is no one ever held accountable for these losses. Why does the country need an airline that costs the country so much in return for what? If they are out of business, no one will ever notice, and private and other operators will very happily fill the void.
its good decision to induct 10 new aircrafts in pia fleet. it Will definite help airline to over come her losses.
......and someone stands to make a buck while PIA will still lose money. The answer is to privatise PIA.........PML-N is doing what PPP did, so no difference.
Please let it die peaceful death..............enough of games for last two decades
I stopped flying PIA when I saw their staff herding passengers like cattle at JFK which was really embarrassing for me. What is being done about staff attitude towards passengers? Until that changes I will not be enticed to fly pia.
Nothing can change in PIA except losses. Privatize PIA ASAP to cut the losses.
Without looking at root cause of PIA's issues, which are mismanagement & unions, it be pretty naïve to think that it can be put back on its feet with new aircrafts alone. This new board is made up of Pakistani businessmen, most of whom got favor from the government to be where they are today. They don't have much experience in serving in international market where one has to prove its worth.
PIA customer base in Pakistan is trapped and don't have much choice to shop for alternates. Whereas those outside Pakistan have choices and PIA has to not only provide service but also be competitive. To address those, its management structure needs to be changed, Unions needs to be streamlined, those who are not performing needs to be simply kicked out, and employee to aircraft ratio needs to be brought down to what other international airlines have. It will be sometime before new airplanes shows up but these steps must be taken today.
I am pretty disappointed at Ishaq Dar that why would he agree to release money to PIA without an action plan and time line to accomplish it. Also, new grant/money should be tied to different milestones as outline in the plan. If PIA board doesn't come up with a comprehensive plan then it is time to cut losses and fold this airline. Let its employee suffer as they deserve it - they have plenty of time to streamline this airline but they choose not to so now they should pay the price rather than people keep them employed.
why not just privatise and get over and done with....
How about the directors buy these from there own money and not the tax payers money.
Offcourse, before it was serving sind in federal govt. Now it is serving punjab in fed govt
PIA plans to induct 'narrow body A/C's'? I think they should look into Boeing 737Max or Airbus 320/321. They are good for domestic, Gulf and Europe, and, PIA can get good traffic on this route.
When your bankrupt you "make do" with your old vehicle - even if it doesn't get the best gas mileage. How about reducing payroll cost and demanding better performance from employees - how about firing the managers who obviously can't manage a profitable airline - those things don't cost money. Better yet - how about closing down PIA - most of the World does just fine without having a state controlled airline.