Shaheen Air has emerged as Pakistan's fastest growing Airline

[Edevelop]

KARACHI: Shaheen Air International (SAI) has emerged as the fastest growing local airline serving international routes from the country and threatens to take more market share from the crisis-hit Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

For the first time since starting operations in 1993, Shaheen crossed the million-customer-mark in fiscal 2012-13 as it carried 1.061 million passengers between Pakistani cities and foreign destinations, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.

The airline has seen phenomenal growth in its share. Compared to 2011-12, Shaheen transported 43.8% more international travellers against a marginal increase of 3% in the overall number of passengers travelling abroad. In 2007-08, Shaheen carried just 280,615 passengers on international routes.

Altogether, the international traffic from Pakistan was 9.5 million in 2012-13 against 9.2 million a year before.

“Shaheen saw the growth opportunity at the right time. PIA is gradually losing its foothold and it was about time someone started to see that,” said an aviation industry official.

It is obvious that Shaheen has taken a significant chunk out of the share of PIA, which witnessed a 9.6% decline in its international passengers. From 3.68 million passengers in 2011-12, the national flag carrier’s traffic dropped to 3.3 million last fiscal year.

PIA remained the largest airline in terms of passenger traffic on international routes, followed by Emirates, which carried 1.45 million passengers in the fiscal year 2012-13.

Few people outside the aviation industry seem to have noticed the growth in Shaheen Air’s business. This was also because of the fact that airlines around the world had been losing money as fuel prices remain high and competition intensifies.

Between February 2012 and September 2013, Shaheen replaced and inducted newer fuel-efficient aircraft expanding its fleet to 18 planes – far more than eight planes which other private airline Airblue operates.

While PIA has 38 aircraft, the number of functional planes is not more than 26 and many of them are old, with a high operational cost.

The inclusion of five Airbus 320s has also given an edge to Shaheen Air. PIA has been trying to induct these narrow-body planes for years now as they are best suited for short-haul flights to the Middle East.

The total number of both domestic and international passengers rose to 16.35 million from 15.79 million in the previous year.

Domestic market

Within Pakistan, it is Air lue which is pushing PIA out with its eight planes. Out of the 6.68 million domestic travellers, PIA flew 4.8 million, Airblue 1.2 million and Shaheen 672,556.

But Airblue saw its passenger traffic increase 61% over 2011-12, again an outcome of the poor condition of PIA, which is losing its market share.

The newest carrier, Air Indus, which started domestic flight earlier this year, is further going to hit PIA’s market share, industry sources say.

Following Air Indus, at least one other airline is looking to start operations in the coming months as investors try to grab a piece of the domestic aviation airspace.

Shaheen, Airblue batter PIA on international, local fronts – The Express Tribune

 

[Armstrong]

@cb4 - Butt Sahib kiyaa khiyaaal haiii - Aaap aur mein bhi eik Airlines na khol leiiin ?

Khair jokes aside I do hope that the PIA is privatized in a responsible manner & the Government looks into the possibility of privatizing it & possibly even raising 1-2 further smaller niche oriented airlines as one part employee cooperative, one part state owned, one part through a fair & transparent IPO where none of the shareholders owns more than 1% of the voting rights & one part as ownership of big institutional investors like the Manshas or the Riazis of Pakistan !

What do you say ? @Hyperion @Oscar @mafiya @Dazzler - Possible ?

Maybe its just the socialist in me whose speaking up !

 

[SQ8]

The only solution for PIA is privatization and the best model is that used for British Airways.
I prefer Shaheen air anyday even over airblue or PIA. They usually depart and arrive on time , their seating is fairly comfortable compared to Airblue(whose seats are no better than the wooden class chairs) and their meals are usually quite edible( as compared to PIA with their bread pieces and Airblue with their stale patties).

 

[Armstrong]

The only solution for PIA is privatization and the best model is that used for British Airways.
I prefer Shaheen air anyday even over airblue or PIA. They usually depart and arrive on time , their seating is fairly comfortable compared to Airblue(whose seats are no better than the wooden class chairs) and their meals are usually quite edible( as compared to PIA with their bread pieces and Airblue with their stale patties).

I've only traveled outside the country on Thai or Cathay - Both were pretty nice !

Especially the Air Hostesses !

Dunno about PIA, though, the last time I traveled with them was probably 10 years ago but back then it seemed good enough !

Does anyone remember Aero Asia ?

 

[chhota bheem]

is it a low budget airline.

is it a low budget airline.

 

[SQ8]

I've only traveled outside the country on Thai or Cathay - Both were pretty nice !

Especially the Air Hostesses !

Dunno about PIA, though, the last time I traveled with them was probably 10 years ago but back then it seemed good enough !

Does anyone remember Aero Asia ?

Aero Asia, Hajvairy.. travelled on all of them. Except Bhoja. My uncle flies for air indus. But PIA is PIA which is why it needs to be handed over in a similar process as BA.
Privatization of British Airways: Before and After

 

[Bratva]

I've only traveled outside the country on Thai or Cathay - Both were pretty nice !

Especially the Air Hostesses !

Dunno about PIA, though, the last time I traveled with them was probably 10 years ago but back then it seemed good enough !

Does anyone remember Aero Asia ?

Had a worst experience on Aero Asia. Low standards of maintenance, Pathetic customer service. They had a limit of 50 KG luggage per customer and coupled with cheap tickets their planes were fully crowded. Plane luggage carrying capacity were many times crossed due to which they had to leave passenger luggage at source destination. Two times I travelled, both times my luggage didn't came with me and it came after 2/3 days

I stopped travelling with them, switched to Qatar Airways which is quite expensive. Hate their food which is usually western but everything else is comfortable ambient.

Travelled once on PIA on 2009, It was horrible, Once seated in aircraft, I observed a crack in window glass inside.. I called male attendant and he said nothing to worry about since crack is in inside window and it won't be a problem even if we go up in the air.

I quit travelling PIA afterwards and found OMAN airways as an alternative, have same price as of PIA and provide ambient services like of QATAR airways.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

I've only traveled outside the country on Thai or Cathay - Both were pretty nice !

Especially the Air Hostesses !

Dunno about PIA, though, the last time I traveled with them was probably 10 years ago but back then it seemed good enough !

Does anyone remember Aero Asia ?

Professional Travel Writers: This Airline had the best ticket costs, and it offered the best travel times. The customer service at check-in was superb. They even overlooked the extra 5 kg in luggage. As we were asked to board the airplane, the elders and seniors among us were personally escorted by the airline staff, huge applause! The boarding for everyone else was a breeze, and the food was alright.

Men: The travel hostesses on ______ are

 

[Bratva]

@cb4 - Butt Sahib kiyaa khiyaaal haiii - Aaap aur mein bhi eik Airlines na khol leiiin ?

Khair jokes aside I do hope that the PIA is privatized in a responsible manner & the Government looks into the possibility of privatizing it & possibly even raising 1-2 further smaller niche oriented airlines as one part employee cooperative, one part state owned, one part through a fair & transparent IPO where none of the shareholders owns more than 1% of the voting rights & one part as ownership of big institutional investors like the Manshas or the Riazis of Pakistan !

What do you say ? @Hyperion @Oscar @mafiya @Dazzler - Possible ?

Maybe its just the socialist in me whose speaking up !

it's a long term solution which might or might not work. In short term, many consumers of middle east are turning away from it which is it's main consumer base.

 

[A.Rafay]

Aero Asia, Hajvairy.. travelled on all of them. Except Bhoja. My uncle flies for air indus. But PIA is PIA which is why it needs to be handed over in a similar process as BA.
Privatization of British Airways: Before and After

Acha hua bhoja air pe nahee charhe warna aakhri flight hoti aapki!

Aero Asia went bankrupt and closed operations, air indus is new airline.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Governments should not be in the Business of running Airlines, Trains or Buses or any other industry. Governments should focus on Defence, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Development of Infrastructure, Promotion of Industry etc.

 

[Armstrong]

Governments should not be in the Business of running Airlines, Trains or Buses or any other industry. Governments should focus on Defence, Economy, Foreign Affairs, Development of Infrastructure, Promotion of Industry etc.

You might be my brother but a Socialist like myself will fight you for that Mirza Sahib !

 

[razgriz19]

PIA flight KHI-dubai caught fire, but landed safely!

 

[Kompromat]

Moral of the story | Things can go right in Pakistan, IF they are done properly.

 

[Cyberian]

The total number of both domestic and international passengers rose to 16.35 million from 15.79 million in the previous year.

Really?