Pakistan International Airlines

[ls27]

Has there been any news of the proposed upgrade of aircraft to a 772?

 

[Runway 32]

Has there been any news of the proposed upgrade of aircraft to a 772?

Many factors were taken into consideration by the PIA management team when they visited LBA a few months ago. A 777 would have to park on the remote stand and not utilise an airbridge due to length of the aircraft which they weren't too happy about. There are doubts over whether the runway will withstand a twice weekly 777 service due to the power of the engines and weight of the aircraft. Finally, doubts over how well a 777 will perform on the current runway length at LBA when full.

As far as I am aware all the PIA 777's are busy on the current network. I don't think we will be lucky enough to see a 777 at LBA and we will have to wait for a replacement eventually for the old A310's. Not sure how much life is left in those old birds??

 

[White Heather]

I cannot imagine why a couple of 777's a week would have any negative affect on the runway. Back in the 80's we had a 747, 2 Tristars (+ fairly regular RAF Tristars) and regular A300's every week. In fact wide bodied aircraft were commonplace, unlike today. There was no damage to the runway then, although the jet blast from the 747 did make a bit of a mess sometimes, especially when they had just cut the grass.

The ideal aircraft to replace the A310 would in my view by the Boeing 787 - lets hope that PIA have the money to order some!

 

[Aviador]

I think the issue was with the runway hard shoulder but aren't the engines of the Boeing 777 nearer to the aircraft fuselage than the outer engines on a Boeing 747?

 

[rhinoscrazy]

theres always an excuse not to upgrade or give something e.g the silly old ones; the runways not long enough, the ecconamys it a bad state, your terminal isn't good enough, your airports too close to manchester airport ( yea well so's liver pool that still dosnt stop them from offering a big route or two) but they never look at why to fly to your airport

 

[Aviador]

I don't think Liverpool has any "big" routes?

 

[backtrack]

Which big routes do they have? its mostly easy and ryanair to european destinations. They may get the odd of charter but so do we with TCX/TOM etc. They definately have no PIA or emirates or anything like that.

 

[Runway 32]

Which big routes do they have? its mostly easy and ryanair to european destinations. They may get the odd of charter but so do we with TCX/TOM etc. They definately have no PIA or emirates or anything like that.

The only long haul route on a regular basis that I can remember of late at Liverpool was the Globespan 757 service to New York that didn't last long.

I think that LBA is in a better position than Liverpool to attract some more long haul destinations such as New York, Dubai and more Pakistan routes as well as long haul charter flights.

None of the above are likely to happen until after expansion work is complete.

 

[Seasider]

I would love to see a service to Dubai but Emirates have just increased one of their flights from MAN to A380, they are not going to dilute their trade there to offer flights from LBA.
It works at Newcastle, because they are 80 miles (approx) further away.
(Sorry, I may have gone off topic)

 

[White Heather]

I would agree. I think our best chance of anything to Dubai would be with PIA stopping on route to somewhere in Pakistan other than ISB - perhaps Lahore, which is a destination that has already proved popular from LBA when Swedair operated it via Stockholm. It was so popular that the BAe 146 'feeder service' to Stockholm Skavsta was very quickly replaced by the 767 operating right through to LBA.

 

[rhinoscrazy]

I would agree. I think our best chance of anything to Dubai would be with PIA stopping on route to somewhere in Pakistan other than ISB - perhaps Lahore, which is a destination that has already proved popular from LBA when Swedair operated it via Stockholm. It was so popular that the BAe 146 'feeder service' to Stockholm Skavsta was very quickly replaced by the 767 operating right through to LBA.

in all honersty would you want to fly on PIA when you could fly on BA to there from some where like manchester or a london airport?

 

[Runway 32]

I would agree. I think our best chance of anything to Dubai would be with PIA stopping on route to somewhere in Pakistan other than ISB - perhaps Lahore, which is a destination that has already proved popular from LBA when Swedair operated it via Stockholm. It was so popular that the BAe 146 'feeder service' to Stockholm Skavsta was very quickly replaced by the 767 operating right through to LBA.

in all honersty would you want to fly on PIA when you could fly on BA to there from some where like Manchester or a London airport?

If the price was right and it was from my regional airport then I would, yes!

 

[rhinoscrazy]

I would agree. I think our best chance of anything to Dubai would be with PIA stopping on route to somewhere in Pakistan other than ISB - perhaps Lahore, which is a destination that has already proved popular from LBA when Swedair operated it via Stockholm. It was so popular that the BAe 146 'feeder service' to Stockholm Skavsta was very quickly replaced by the 767 operating right through to LBA.

in all honersty would you want to fly on PIA when you could fly on BA to there from some where like Manchester or a London airport?

If the price was right and it was from my regional airport then I would, yes!

id prefer to fly on a british airline to the middle east rather than one of there own its the fact that they might not speak the language or the plane could be not
verrry safe

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I can't imagine any safety problems or language difficulties with PIA except that sometimes overseas accents can be slightly difficult to pick up, but that can apply to regional accents in the UK too.

The main UK to Dubai carrier is Emirates and its fleet is modern and compares favourably with most airlines around the world. Flight and cabin crews can also converse satisfactorily (at least) in English.

Of course it's nice to support UK airlines when possible and where the product suits the customer's needs - but does BA really support the entire UK or even the rest of England outside the south east now it has retrenched to London?

 

[rhinoscrazy]

I can't imagine any safety problems or language difficulties with PIA except that sometimes overseas accents can be slightly difficult to pick up, but that can apply to regional accents in the UK too.

The main UK to Dubai carrier is Emirates and its fleet is modern and compares favourably with most airlines around the world. Flight and cabin crews can also converse satisfactorily (at least) in English.

Of course it's nice to support UK airlines when possible and where the product suits the customer's needs - but does BA really support the entire UK or even the rest of England outside the south east now it has retrenched to London?

i struggle alot witha scottish accent or even a birmingham or liverpool acent

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Going off topic a bit but there is a story that is said to be true that a Scottish woman was telephoning a help centre one day that was based in India.

Customer and help centre operator were struggling to understand each other's strongly but differently accented English until the operator became so exasperated that he asked the Scottish woman if there was anyone in her house he could speak to whose first language was English.

If you find Liverpool and Birmingham difficult at times you ought to try Bristol. There is a book on the Bristol accent titled, 'Krek Waiters Peak Bristle'. Translated into English this is the Bristolian for Correct Way To Speak Bristol.

A couple of example of Bristolian include Portishead (a coastal town on the Severn) which is spoken as Port Zed, and an area of Bristol called Barton Hill - Bart Nil.

Bristolians also like to add (in speech) the Bristol l at the end of words ending in a, so we have 'our Donnal' (our Donna), 'areal' (area) and sepial photographs.

To get faintly back on topic (at least it's aviation related) a few years ago I flew back to BRS with XL and its Bristol-based crew. One of the female cabin staff was mature in years, very personable with a notable Bristol accent who called all the passengers 'My Luvver'. Marvellous!!

Sorry to everyone for this blatant abuse of the topic.

 

[White Heather]

Yes but its funny so your forgiven Local Yokel.

Personally, I would always fly from my local airport if the destination was available from there and I don't really care whether the airline is British or foreign.

 

[Runway 32]

PIA load figures

Does anyone know what the load figures have been like with PIA over the past few weeks whilst the terrible floods have affected Pakistan and also what the cargo has been like. Has any aid supplies gone out on the flights from LBA?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[backtrack]

Re: PIA load figures

Does anyone know what the load figures have been like with PIA over the past few weeks whilst the terrible floods have affected Pakistan and also what the cargo has been like. Has any aid supplies gone out on the flights from LBA?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Indeed, the flights have been operating nea to MTOW recently, mostly due to the increase in cargo being taken out to ISB. Last week 4 containers were loaded to the front hold full of drinking water, biscuits and other dry foods, plus blankets, pillows and some basic warm clothing.

On another note, PK have confirmed they will operate a service ISB - LBA - ISB on christmas day this year (a Saturday).

 

[Galaxy]

Was talking to a guy who works for Service Air in the pub last night, and he told me some stories about PIA and their passengers. The main news being that a rumour is going around at LBIA that PIA might be on their way to Donny, where they can land larger aircraft...only a rumour, but that's what he told me. The other stuff about some of their passengers I wont put on here.