Pakistan International Airlines

[White Heather]

Brilliant news. PIA must be very happy at the moment with the LBA route. Long may that continue!

 

[BigMac]

another full load tonight on the outbound

 

[harehills]

any news on the PIA schedule for the summer hopefully we will see an increase in capacity

 

[Aviador]

Nothing, but PIA have a tendency to chop and change things at very short notice. We could be on here talking about a reduction to twice weekly by tomorrow, on the otherhand they could up it to 4 x weekly you just can't tell with them.

If we are to go by rumours then either back to just Wednesday's and Saturday's for the summer (or) four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, so take your pick.

 

[White Heather]

I will pick 4 times weekly if you don't mind, purely as I don't fancy going back to twice weekly, even if it were on a 777. Given how many passengers they are carrying right now, I can't imagine why they would be wanting to reduce their services. As mentioned on another thread, their average passenger load in November was 167 per flight!

 

[backtrack]

My bet is no change at all, using their Airbus A310 3 x a week. However, as goes without saying, i would like to see this increase to 4 x weekly, or indeed add KHI or LHE even once weekly.

 

[User0001]

The best news about PIA is that the route is a success and thereare no plans to stop it.

 

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Airports all over the place today because of the snow. Don't know if it's snow related but last nights PIA flight went out seven hours late!

 

[White Heather]

It was snow related. It was late coming in anyway, not arriving until around 9.30pm, then it was snowed in. I believe it finally left in the early hours, after the runway had been cleared. Certainly I heard what sounded like an A310 climbing out on 14, but couldn't be bothered opening my eyes to see what the time was.

 

[backtrack]

03.15 finally got airbourne.

 

[Aviador]

Only around 35 passengers on last Wednesdays service. I don't know what factors if any have influenced such a low passenger number. I can't imagine Christmas having any influence.

 

[012tom012]

Full i'b once again though, different times of the year attract more inbound/outbound traffic.

 

[User0001]

PIA plan to stop the Glasgow-Lahore service... http://airlineroute.net/2010/01/05/pk-lhegla-cxld/

 

[Aviador]

That doesn't necessarily mean a Leeds service wouldn't be viable although I wouldn't exactly say the conditions are right to launch the route right now.

 

[backtrack]

I would imagine if PK were to add another route to LBA, it would be LHE. Saying that, as Aviador says, im not sure on how confident PK would be to start up another at this current time, and also whethere they would have a spare Airbus 310-300 to operate it.

It was not so long ago rumoured PK were moving their operation from MAN to LBA...but like most rumours, it didnt become of any truth.

 

[User0001]

i know this is a old rumour but is B777 ever going to happen??

Post authorised by Aviador at 15:30 on 15.1.2010. Sorry for the delay 'Guest' but thankyou for your input.

 

[Runway 32]

Something will have to happen at some point as the A310's can't have that much more life left in them. I know that there has been plenty of rumour on the 777LR being considered and even at one point being almost certain to be utlised out of LBA. Maybe LBA won't see a change in aircraft until the A310's start departing PIA and then PIA may well consider the getting some A330's???? Only thoughts!

 

[rhinoscrazy]

i think it would most likely to be 777 because why would they buy brand new aircraft for one route or would they add more routes if they bought some new aircraft?

 

[User0001]

The Glasgow-Lahore route is not performing, it is however under review. PIA wanted to cut the route but Scottish officials managed to
persuade PIA that with more media the route will perform.

Maybe PIA are waiting to see if that works, if not that will free up another A310 and that may fit into the airlines expansion plans with LBA, so it could mean an extra weekly flight on the airbus.

 

[backtrack]

i think it would most likely to be 777 because why would they buy brand new aircraft for one route or would they add more routes if they bought some new aircraft?

IF PIA were to get some A330's, 1) i belive they would be second hand models and not brand new, and 2) they wouldnt just buy a couple of A330's to operate to LBA or the "one route" you suggest above. I imagine they would buy a small fleet to replace their aged A310s and use them to operate the exact same routes as the A310s do now. The other contender i would imagine would be the B767 for PIA.

Airbus A330's especially the -300 versions are in demand at the present time, and therefore there are little just sitting around. Airlines are keeping hold of their A330s frames because they are one of the most economically viable aircraft right now, as we can see from Virgins latest press release about their orders for the variant. Untill the B787 dreamliners begin operations, the A330 is a probably the soundest economical aircraft about.

In terms of adding more routes, if you mean to LBA, i have said before i expect LHE to be next if we get any at all...