Pakistan International Airlines

[White Heather]

Yes I have seen that - they have spelled it like they say it!

Another good reason to put Leeds - you can't mispronounce it!!

 

[wawkrk]

Heather, was 1908 not before The Swinging Blue Jeans?

 

[White Heather]

So you spotted it then??

 

[wawkrk]

Errr, yes. :dirol:

 

[Aviador]

The latest I have heard is that the airport fire service has been told it needs to be CAT 9 ready for September. I don't think the airport will be on permanent CAT 9. The requirement is usually additional man power for any heavy aircraft.

 

[backtrack]

What CAT are we currently at? Doe's CAT 9 mean we will need more fire appliances too aswell as man power? Maybe thats something to do with the B777 arrival?

 

[Aviador]

The only extra requirement is manpower no additional appliances are required.

"Maybe thats something to do with the B777 arrival?l"

That's what I was thinking!

 

[Bigman]

It would be nice to think so. I would have thought it would have been announced by now if it was going to happen.

 

[backtrack]

KHI apparently suspended from MAN (according to a work colleague)- could this be something we may pick up as an addition to ISB? split load on a 772??

Split load on a B772 could well be a very good idea for PIA, maybe they will trial it?

Did your "work colleague" mention why the route had been suspended? MAN have had the service last night and once allready today!

PIA's communication is poor, you're right. On most PIA nights, if they bother to send the loadsheets etc, comes only half an hour or so before the inbound PK775 lands!

 

[empire]

PIA do not operate to Karachi from Manchester. They only operate a twice weekly KHI-LHE-MAN-JFK, Manchester being a security stopover required by the US authorities before arrival in US territory. There is no return leg via MAN.

In July only 46 pax travelled between KHI and MAN for the entire month, due to the nature of it being a stopover flight. PIA have tried a direct service from MAN to KHI before (twice) and failed miserably. I would doubt KHI is sustainable from LBA.

LBA-ISB only had a 74% load factor in July, which for a peak month for UK-Pakistan travel, is not setting the world on fire.

 

[ex_crew]

I would very much doubt there will be a service from Leeds to KHI. Most of the Immigrants from Pakistan come from the North, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Sriningar. The demand is not there. B.A have not operated there for years because the demand is weak.

Its almost like being in a different country. I remember once operating the MAN-ISB flight and we diverted to KHI. When I opened the door on the tarmac the authorities boared with armed police and literally told us to leave immediately. Like it was that easy with a 747, laden with 400 people.

 

[empire]

Empire July is a peak month for travel Ex UK for leisure destinations but not to Pakistan (in my opinion I hasten to add).

I disagree. July and August are peak periods for UK-Pakistan travel along with January, February and March. The The "humid" months of mid April, May and up to Mid June are off peak. There is some lesser peaks late September and October for pre Hajj traffic routing via the "home" nation, similarily late December and early January for the return, dependent on the dates when Hajj falls.

74% at this time of year isn't good, but to be fair does generally fall in line with the overall softening of the UK-PK market this summer. It certainly does not indicate a 777 is needed on the route anytime soon.

 

[ex_crew]

Theres the cargo revenue to consider too. Overall is the route doing well, there are always good/bad months on all routes.
Does anybody know how the route is doing?

 

[empire]

Theres the cargo revenue to consider too.

Approx 2 tonnes inbound per flight, nothing outbound. Not exactly a significant revenue earner.

there are always good/bad months on all routes.

July should have been a good month.

 

[ex_crew]

Why should it of been a good month, for what reason?

When I use to operate flights out to Pakistan hot months were the quietest flights.

 

[empire]

Why should it of been a good month, for what reason?

When I use to operate flights out to Pakistan hot months were the quietest flights.

Please read my previous post!

 

[Aviador]

We should not forget that we are in a world recession so passenger figures will be lower at the moment compared with what we would be expecting had we not been in a recession.

PIA have indicated that the life of the A310 is coming to a close so the Boeing 777 could be required sooner rather than later for operational reasons.

 

[ex_crew]

The route must be performing if a larger aircraft is seriously being considered.

 

[empire]

The route must be performing if a larger aircraft is seriously being considered.

I admire your optimism, but perhaps the larger unit was being considered when load factors were over 90%. You only need to consult the CAA route stats for the last 12 months to see that in the off peak months a 75% LF was the norm with circa 95% in the peak months and an impressive growth trend (considering the seasonal fluctuation) compared to other stations. Whilst as stated in my previous posts there is a general softening of the UK-PK market, a 74% LF in peak periods (July and August are "dry" months where there is a significant VFR movement) will be viewed in context of the market in general and other UK stations performance, along with revenues gained which is key to PIA's recovery plan under Capt Haroon. His view, rightly or wrongly is that increasing revenue for the company will allow a greater overhead absorption, particuarily for a company that has the highest employee to aircraft ratio in the world, with a heavily unionised workforce. Putting an aircraft with 329 seats onto a route that in a peak month averages 136 adds cost, not revenue. Until the market recovers and national security concerns are offset in Pakistan, off peak months will be lean to say the least. August figures will be interesting to review to consider what trends are forming.

There is now an independent review instigated by the government of Pakistan in the last week looking at the performance of PIA (and its management) which will undoubtedly look at decisions made by the current management regime and the competence of its recovery plan. PIA is a state owned entity making a 30m loss. If LBA as a route does not show it adds value to PIA's operation compared to its previous centralisation in MAN, then it will be under pressure.

I don't have a crystal ball so time will tell, but PIA's LBA operation will be viewed as a statistic, as part of the bigger picture.

If you speak Urdu, then this interview with Haroon indicates the complexities, both political and financial that PIA face, and a clear message that Haroons recovery plan is under pressure.
http://pkonweb.com/2009/08/22/bolta-pakistan-35/

 

[User0001]

Tonight's outbound was 87 souls on board, so probably 70 or so fare paying pax.