While PIA has 38 aircraft, the number of functional planes is not more than 26 and many of them are old, with a high operational cost. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Shaheen Air International (SAI) has emerged as the fastest growing local airline serving international routes from the country and threatens to take more market share from the crisis-hit Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
For the first time since starting operations in 1993, Shaheen crossed the million-customer-mark in fiscal 2012-13 as it carried 1.061 million passengers between Pakistani cities and foreign destinations, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
The airline has seen phenomenal growth in its share. Compared to 2011-12, Shaheen transported 43.8% more international travellers against a marginal increase of 3% in the overall number of passengers travelling abroad. In 2007-08, Shaheen carried just 280,615 passengers on international routes.
Altogether, the international traffic from Pakistan was 9.5 million in 2012-13 against 9.2 million a year before.
“Shaheen saw the growth opportunity at the right time. PIA is gradually losing its foothold and it was about time someone started to see that,” said an aviation industry official.
It is obvious that Shaheen has taken a significant chunk out of the share of PIA, which witnessed a 9.6% decline in its international passengers. From 3.68 million passengers in 2011-12, the national flag carrier’s traffic dropped to 3.3 million last fiscal year.
PIA remained the largest airline in terms of passenger traffic on international routes, followed by Emirates, which carried 1.45 million passengers in the fiscal year 2012-13.
Few people outside the aviation industry seem to have noticed the growth in Shaheen Air’s business. This was also because of the fact that airlines around the world had been losing money as fuel prices remain high and competition intensifies.
Between February 2012 and September 2013, Shaheen replaced and inducted newer fuel-efficient aircraft expanding its fleet to 18 planes – far more than eight planes which other private airline Airblue operates.
While PIA has 38 aircraft, the number of functional planes is not more than 26 and many of them are old, with a high operational cost.
The inclusion of five Airbus 320s has also given an edge to Shaheen Air. PIA has been trying to induct these narrow-body planes for years now as they are best suited for short-haul flights to the Middle East.
The total number of both domestic and international passengers rose to 16.35 million from 15.79 million in the previous year.
Domestic market
Within Pakistan, it is Air lue which is pushing PIA out with its eight planes. Out of the 6.68 million domestic travellers, PIA flew 4.8 million, Airblue 1.2 million and Shaheen 672,556.
But Airblue saw its passenger traffic increase 61% over 2011-12, again an outcome of the poor condition of PIA, which is losing its market share.
The newest carrier, Air Indus, which started domestic flight earlier this year, is further going to hit PIA’s market share, industry sources say.
Following Air Indus, at least one other airline is looking to start operations in the coming months as investors try to grab a piece of the domestic aviation airspace.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (8)
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Its very simple to compare' new judgement of high court of Peshawar regarding incident of air blue we are those peoples who forget every thing after one year an what media feed us we believe on this.pilot was responsible of incident because in private airline there are pressure on pilots he must land to save a millions to avoid diversion.to understand pia you have to inside pia because you cannot point out or discuss the depth of sea while you stand at beach.pia is like sea.having billions dollors of prime assets. Only one hotel in new York price 5 billion dollar mean more then 500 billion pk rs.only need to reevaluation of assets.this is the price of one hotel.pia have prime routs all over the world.pia need only he honest and dedicated leadership that we did not except from N govt.because IMF.tnx
This is very good that Shaheen Air is Increasing there fleet with Airbus A320 and Boeing 747-400. But people dont know that shaheen air planes are also used not new. If Comparing Shaheen Air with PIA, let me inform you and everyone have this in their knowledge that PIA is operating Boeing 777-200LR, 777-240LR and 777-340ER which came in Year 2004 and Alhumdulillah these planes have no complains and flying continues flight till canada and US. PIA was the first airline who operates the 777 faimly snd have the record of longest flight inbthe history of aviation. However PIA is in lose due to Corrupted people and uneducated employees and planes stop for celebraties like Shaista Lodhi for vip protocol. In this all sitution of course PIA will lose its all image which is somehow little bit saved....
AirBlue proved in 2010 that it was prepared to sacrifice safety for profit. I for one will never travel on this airline (no matter how horrible PIA is with its service)
it is not shame to write this. for the first time a somewhat intelligent article on aviation . instead of a uselessly mixed together bunch of words. hats off to writer, but dear you should not compare a white elephant with carriage drawing horses. compare the pvt airlines together. you have hit upon a lot on PIA, what about customer service. fact that PIA still survives thanks to the few hardworking employees. and still feeds the useless thousands employees. you may get a ticket on airblue or shaheen now. pushi ng out PIA? yeah right, its PIA handling most services of these operators and some journalist's who uselessly criticise PIA will never see their dark aspirations come to light (not talking of u but many others). long live Pakistan long live PIA.
@Nadir: Rightly pointed out Nadir sb. Should have simply stated Air Blue, which is battering PIA. But you know how journalists are, they would do anything to make up the 600 word count. Cheers.
Totally wrong analysis did not base on fact only criticism what this media want to show.but I witness people love to travel PIA due to its the name of Pakistan attachment yes we know there are many things need to address in Pia but you did not comparison with air blue and SHAHEEN.shame to write this
If the airfares will be increased, the domestic passengers will be reduced drastically.
I have noticed that except in the cases of emergency, an average person would like to travel by train and families traveling together prefer to travel on long routes through buses.
The market share also depend on the quick reservation system and availability of the flights on a particular route.
I hope that after selling 26% shares, PIA would be able to come out from its present financial crises.
PIA still carriers 400% more domestic passengers than Airblue. How exactly is Airblue pushing PIA out?