While Pakistan has air services agreements with 45 countries, PIA flies to just a handful of them because of shortage of aircraft. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Pakistan International Airlines on Wednesday launched in-flight phone call and SMS service on its Boeing-777 aircrafts, Express News reported.
PIA spokesperson Mashoor Tajwar said customers could avail the service in exchange for a nominal fee which can be paid through their credit cards. He further said the airline will start an in-flight email service very soon.
The Express Tribune had reported in December last year PIA aimed to be the country's first airline to offer Wi-fi and phone services.
PIA's Managing Director Junaid Yunus had said then that initially, the facilities will be offered on PIA’s nine Boeing-777s, which have been deployed on longer routes to Europe, US and Canada.
While Pakistan has air services agreements with 45 countries, PIA flies to just a handful of them because of shortage of aircraft.
Still, it is widely believed in the industry that PIA benefits from one of the world’s most loyal brand following. “I am convinced that our point-to-point service will help us take our share back from other carriers,” Yunus said, referring to direct international flights without any stopovers.
COMMENTS (13)
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PIA SHOULD - start direct flights to Karachi and Lahore from Birmingham International Airport demand is high.
Best route would be Boeing 747
Glasgow - Birmingham then direct NON STOP - Pakistan Lahore with 1 STOP KARACHI.
Demand is HIGH.
THANK YOU
RIA -Inflight you need more meals and diabetic meals with fruit thank you.
The seats are uncomfortable and the space between the seats is small. No pillow and blankets available for the customers. You are lucky if you even get a working entertainment system. The staff is nice if you behave appropriately with them. Pakistani dont even know how to use Airplane Bathroom. They threw tissue papers on the floor of the bathroom after using the bathroom(not the fault of the Airline though) One of the bathroom was not even working. When I traveled this year, the food was good.
I have traveled on emirates, Eitehad and PIA. I think only Pakistanis who dont know English should travel on PIA because the language barrier is a huge problem especially for elderly.
The Express Tribune had reported in December last year PIA aimed to be the country’s first airline to offer Wi-fi and phone services.
That's incorrect. Emirates already offers Wifi for a very low fee.
How about focusing on something a little more important instead, you know, like taking off on time, or arriving on time?
I have traveled to middle east several times with PIA and there is not much difference in the experiance. The aircrafts need to be a little more clean(seats) and in-flight entertainment system should be improved. I think most of the people complaining about PIA have never travelled with it. I am a satisfied PIA Customer. :)
Nice! hopefully people are going to use this facility wisely and not abuse it, as we are not a very carefull nation. I am expecting that it won't interfere in the navigation system of the aircraft as I want to touch ground in one piece!
Good move PIA... while I agree problems remain... anything being done to revive the National carrier should be lauded
Bring PIA to Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, it has big PAKISTANI community who prefer PIA compared Gulf Airlines.
This is good move by the PIA. Now with in flight SMS, passengers will be able to inform their loved ones when they get delayed by many hours. Getting delayed regularly is also a free in flight service provided by the PIA .
what won't they do to stop privatization :D
According to some reports huge kickbacks are involved in approving the contract of one company that provides these inflight services. Also PIA administration is earning millions from Kickbacks on recent narrow bodied aircraft contract along with soft lease. If somebody is thinking that PIA will soon become a profit making entity then they are living in a fools paradise and nothing else.
Get the entertainment system fixed first!