Pakistan Civil Aviation | Information & News.

[Jango]

https://www.facebook.com/Emirates?fref=ts

Emirates Airline coming to Sialkot...A-330 to operate on this route.

 

[Edevelop]

Kashgar-Islamabad Direct Flight Opens

Pakistan-based airlines Pakistan International Air and Rayyan Air in collaboration launched direct flights between Islamabad and the Chinese mainland city of Kashgar on Wednesday.

It is the first international route linking Kashgar, a southern city in west China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the capital of Pakistan.

The maiden flight, carrying 89 passengers, arrived at Kashgar International Airport at 12:25 p.m., according to Li Mei, an official with the airport.

The flight and its return will be offered once a week on Wednesdays. The flight time is one hour.

Kashgar International Airport is the second largest airport in Xinjiang. It opened in January 2006.

Kashgar-Islamabad Direct Flight Opens

 

[Edevelop]

 

[Edevelop]

https://www.facebook.com/Emirates?fref=ts

Emirates Airline coming to Sialkot...A-330 to operate on this route.

And Qatar Airways to Multan soon

 

[Edevelop]

AirBlue is starting flights for Birmingham from Islamabad & Lahore.

 

[Edevelop]

PIA chairman, MD to be appointed in 45 days, SC informed

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court was informed on Monday that the new chairman and managing director of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would be appointed within 45 days in accordance with law.

The assurance was given by PIA's counsel to the two-member bench headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, which resumed hearing in a suo motu case regarding irregularities and illegalities in the national flag carrier.

During the course of proceedings, Raja Bashir, counsel for PIA, submitted before the court that advertisements seeking applications for the posts of chairman and MD had already been published in leading newspapers.

The advertisement for the slot of MD was even uploaded on the PIA's website, he said.

The counsel said as many as 22 applications had been received for the post of chairman and 300 for the MD.

He contended that the new chairman and the MD would take up the matter regarding political appointments in PIA.

While expressing dismay over the pathetic condition of the national flag carrier, the court said PIA ranked at the bottom of international airlines due to irregularities and illegalities.

PIA chairman, MD to be appointed in 45 days, SC informed | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

 

[Imran Khan]

 

[Edevelop]

Emirates adds fifth route to Pakistan

Emirates commenced operations on its fifth route to Pakistan on 5 November, when it launched services on the 2,000-kilometre route from Dubai (DXB) to Sialkot (SKT) in the north-east of the country. Four weekly flights are offered on the new route and operated using A330-200s in competition with flydubai’s thrice-weekly schedule. Emirates already serves four other points in Pakistan with non-stop services from Dubai to Karachi (35 weekly flights), Islamabad and Lahore (11 each) and Peshawar (five).

In Sialkot

 

[Edevelop]

Gulf Air launches flights to Sialkot in Pakistan

Manama, Dec. 12. (BNA) -- Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, announced today that it will start services to its fifth destination in Pakistan - Sialkot - on Tuesday 17th January 2014, with two flights per week.

Operations to Sialkot International Airport, located around 125km north of Lahore, will provide Gulf Air’s customers, travelling to the Export Triangle of Pakistan – the area encompassing Gujrat, Sialkot and Gujranwala where approximately 60% of Pakistan's SME's are located, with an alternative travel proposition.


Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Ahmed Janahi commented saying, "Pakistan is a key longstanding market for Gulf Air and is one of our most successful destinations. The recent 30% frequency increase in our flights to Pakistan, spread across our network in the country - Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar - has been positively received by our passengers, as reflected by strong bookings. Therefore, the decision was taken to further strengthen our operations to the country by the addition of a fifth destination – Sialkot. Gulf Air operates one of the largest networks in the region and as such presents a unique advantage for our Pakistani customers to reach the Middle East and North African markets with our seamless connection via Bahrain."

He continued, "The addition of Sialkot to Gulf Air’s network demonstrates the forward-looking emphasis of the airline as it continues to transition from a period of restructuring to one of development. The airline remains committed to proactively leveraging opportunities to strengthen its network through identifying niche opportunities."

Gulf Air will operate flights to Sialkot on Tuesdays and Fridays with an Airbus A320 aircraft that offers 16 Falcon Gold class seats and 120 in economy

Bahrain News Agency | Gulf Air launches flights to Sialkot in Pakistan

 

[Edevelop]

PIA mull over starting flights to Australia

KARACHI - Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward called on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director Muhammad Junaid Younas at the head office on Wednesday and discussed the matters of mutual interest.

First Secretary, Australian High Commission, Ms Melisa, Business Development Manager, Tahir Mehmood, and PIA Deputy Managing Director Air Vice Marshal Qasim Masood Khan was also present on the occasion.

The Australian High Commissioner lauded the PIA MD for steps taken to increase the revenue and reduce the expenditures. Expressing interest in expanding the network of the airlines, he emphasised upon starting direct PIA flights to Australia and assured of his full cooperation.

During the meeting, the PIA MD briefed the visiting delegation about the expansion of flights network and addition of new aircrafts in the fleet. He said Australia bore great importance to the airlines and PIA was mulling over starting flights to Australia.

PIA mull over starting flights to Australia | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

 

[Edevelop]

Turkish Airlines operates its first flight to Lahore

Already having the most comprehensive airline network, Turkish Airlines brings yet another destination in South Asia online. With existing services to both Karachi and Islamabad in Pakistan, Turkish Airlines adds Lahore as the third, stated a release.
Lahore is the second largest metropolitan area in Pakistan and is known as its cultural capital, with a rich tradition dating back hundreds of years.

Roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Lahore will operate 3 times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Istanbul, and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Lahore.

Travel Biz Monitor :: Turkish Airlines operates its first flight to Lahore

 

[khanboy007]

PIA mull over starting flights to Australia

KARACHI - Australian High Commissioner Peter Heyward called on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director Muhammad Junaid Younas at the head office on Wednesday and discussed the matters of mutual interest.

First Secretary, Australian High Commission, Ms Melisa, Business Development Manager, Tahir Mehmood, and PIA Deputy Managing Director Air Vice Marshal Qasim Masood Khan was also present on the occasion.

The Australian High Commissioner lauded the PIA MD for steps taken to increase the revenue and reduce the expenditures. Expressing interest in expanding the network of the airlines, he emphasised upon starting direct PIA flights to Australia and assured of his full cooperation.

During the meeting, the PIA MD briefed the visiting delegation about the expansion of flights network and addition of new aircrafts in the fleet. He said Australia bore great importance to the airlines and PIA was mulling over starting flights to Australia.

PIA mull over starting flights to Australia | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

thats FANTASTIC

No doubts, we have Pakistanis in Australia.Just to add on, PIA drastically needs to improve its quality of service to enter a competition and at least be close to a win situation.Qantas is already in with Emirates for the A380 terminal in Dubai.

 

[fatman17]

PIA selects Lufthansa Technik for engine maintenance
By: Michael Gubisch London

11:13 5 Dec 2013
Source:

Pakistan International Airlines has contracted Lufthansa Technik to support the engines powering its Airbus A310 and ATR 42 fleets.

The German MRO specialist has won a three-year deal covering the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 engines fitted to the Karachi-based carrier's six-strong ATR 42 turboprop fleet and a separate five-year deal spanning six A310s' Pratt & Whitney PW4000s.

The PW4000 contract covers repairs and overhauls, supply of spare engines, engineering services and logistics.

Meanwhile, a PW127 powerplant is already undergoing overhaul at LHT’s Aero Alzey regional engine shop near Frankfurt.

"This is the first long-term contract between Lufthansa Technik and PIA," says Ziad Al Hazmi, the maintenance provider’s general manager for the Middle East region.

 

[khanboy007]

Flying higher: PIA aims to be country’s first to offer Wi-fi, phone service

KARACHI:
Passengers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will soon be able to use phone, check emails and watch latest movies on board as the air carrier will upgrade its in-flight entertainment system on long-haul flights.

Initially, the facilities – Wi-fi and phone service being introduced for the first time by a Pakistani carrier – will be offered on PIA’s nine Boeing 777s, which have been deployed on longer routes to Europe, US and Canada, said Managing Director Junaid Yunus.

“We are making every effort to improve the product,” he told The Express Tribune. “Seats and carpets in the planes are being replaced with new ones and special emphasis will be placed on cleanliness.”

Some of the specialised firms providing satellite communication services have already expressed their interest in working with PIA. But the national flag carrier will shortly issue a tender to meet the regulatory requirement.

Yunus said the airline on its own cannot manage the entertainment system effectively. “For example, the Wi-fi system is very expensive to replace or upgrade.”

PIA’s management has finally realised that it cannot woo passengers without offering them better service compared with other carriers, especially on long-haul flights.

The desire to upgrade in-flight entertainment service follows Yunus’ insistence that long-range B-777s will be used only for international flights to make the trips financially viable.

“The 15-hour flight to Toronto is tiring and passengers need to relax,” he said. “We are just trying to make sure that their journey is safe as well as comfortable.”

Foreign and domestic private airlines have slowly eaten into PIA’s passenger traffic. PIA’s share in international passenger traffic from Pakistan came down to 35% in 2012-13 from 43% in 2007-08.

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.

PIA recently inducted four B-737s on wet lease to make sure it can spare bigger 777s for international destinations. The airline has also received government’s nod to induct narrow-body aircraft on dry lease next year.

According to Startrax, the leading air travel rating service provider, PIA is a three-star airline, placing it along with Air India, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Southwest. The customer reviews offer some insight into the passenger experience.

“The meal was fantastic! Inflight entertainment screens were about to be switched on when all the passengers realised only 10 out of 200 screens were working! We had no entertainment for seven hours. Always bring an Ipad, Ipod or entertainment device with you,” wrote Huzayfah Alam, who travelled from London Heathrow to Islamabad on PIA’s B-777-200ER in July.

In almost every other review, passengers have complained about non-existent in-flight entertainment.

 

[khanboy007]

A pilot who wasn’t happy with the onboard food menu reportedly delayed his commercial New York-bound flight for two and a half hours because he wanted sandwiches.

Captain Noushad apparently asked the catering department at Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal airport (AIIAP) for his own tailored foodstuffs to take onboard.

When they said they could only provide items that had been pre-approved, they directed him towards a five-star hotel in the city which would have to courier his order over.

Having demanded the sandwiches for his Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight Pk-711, the 6.45am departure had to be revised to 9.15am instead.

The delay to the New York via Manchester flight is likely to have resulted in inconvenience for any passengers needing to change for connecting flights.

As reported by Pakistan’s The Nation newspaper, PIA management changed the menu on international and long-haul flights from November 25 onwards.

It downgraded lunch-time sandwiches to peanuts, crisps and biscuits in a cost-cutting exercise.

Source: PIA Captain Noushad: Pilot delays Pakistan-New York flight by 2.5hrs for a sandwich delivery | Metro News