PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

Post by Abbas Ali »

PIA Boeing 777-200ER (registration AP-BGJ) at London Heathrow Airport getting ready to perform airline's inaugural London to Sialkot flight PK778 today.

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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PIA Boeing 777-200ER (registration AP-BGJ) airborne as airline's inaugural London to Sialkot flight PK778.

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Source: flightradar24.com

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Goodies for passengers of PIA London to Sialkot inaugural flight PK778.

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

Post by Abbas Ali »

With effective PIA Cargo marketing and attractive freight rates, PIA Sialkot to London flights should also get good load of Sialkot exports cargo consignments like surgical equipment, leather products, sports goods etc.

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

Post by GEnx »

Well I'm sure these routes from SKT may have big cargo potential. But I don't know how much is the pax potential. Especially on SKT-BCN route. Btw PIA must have at least one dedicated freighter in its fleet. An A310F in good condition can be purchased at a reasonable price.
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Arrival of PIA Boeing 777-200ER (AP-BGJ) inaugural flight PK-778 at Sialkot International Airport from London on September 11.

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Water cannon salute given to the aircraft.

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PIA Boeing 777-200ER (AP-BGJ) departed from Sialkot at 10:18 AM as airline's inaugural flight PK777 to London.
Source: flightradar24.com

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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The perfect time to convert an aircraft from passenger to cargo is at the age 15. PIA should consider converting two of their oldest 777s to cargo version and operate them to New York via London and back and maybe connect that flight to Hong Kong or Singapore. Two 777s converted to cargo can serve PIA well for another 10 years. Rather than upgrading 15 year old 777s convert them to cargo. Years ago when Pakistani economy was much smaller PIA has two 707Fs and two combis plus lots of belly space cargo. PIA Cargo should really hire some better people to fill up their aircraft.
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Amaad Lone wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2019 10:03 am The perfect time to convert an aircraft from passenger to cargo is at the age 15. PIA should consider converting two of their oldest 777s to cargo version and operate them to New York via London and back and maybe connect that flight to Hong Kong or Singapore. Two 777s converted to cargo can serve PIA well for another 10 years. Rather than upgrading 15 year old 777s convert them to cargo. Years ago when Pakistani economy was much smaller PIA has two 707Fs and two combis plus lots of belly space cargo. PIA Cargo should really hire some better people to fill up their aircraft.
I'm afraid that is not possible. Because presently, there is no B777 pax to cargo convertion program. Pax 777 has composite floor beam unlike the metal beam in B777F. So it cannot be readily converted. Although dedicated B777F can be acquired.
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Cake cutting ceremony arranged at Sialkot International Airport to celebrate the launch of PIA Boeing 777 flight PK777 from Sialkot to London on September 11.

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

Post by ammad »

It is basically a "move" of a flight that operates from KHI to London, is now operating from SKT to London.

Any idea how the loads looks like? PIA needs to focus much on UK market, as most of EK Profit is coming from UK market.
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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PIA Press Release

Karachi, September 11, 2019:
PIA adds one more route to its network with once a week flight for the sector Sialkot -London-Sialkot, this is the 10th route addition by PIA in a year. With the commencement of Sialkot -London flight PIA now operates 20 flights per week between United Kingdom and Pakistan.

The first flight PK 777 took off from Sialkot on Wednesday morning.

A simple ceremony was held at Sialkot International Airport. The passengers of the first flight were seen off by Usman Dar Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Air Commodore Shahid Qadir Head of Security & Vigilance PIA, Nadeem Anwar Qureshi, Chairman SIAL, Chief Execcutive Officer SIAL, Major General (Retd) Muhammad Abid Nazir, Station Manager PIA, Tariq Gulzar and senior officials of PIA and Sialkot International Airport.

Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan in his message on the launch of the flight said that the Sialkot- London flight fulfills the long standing demand of the people of Sialkot and adjoining areas and now they will have access to direct flight with convenient timings. The flight operation from Sialkot to London will further increase the airline revenues and help facilitate expansion of airline's cargo business. He congratulated CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik and his team for the sincere efforts in bringing improvements in PIA and commencement of London flight operation from Sialkot.

CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik sharing his views on the launch of Sialkot -London flight thanked Aviation Minister for his support and said that PIA plans to operate more flights for the conveneince of passengers, it is expected that the Sialkot london flight will be a success and PIA is pleased to offer Cargo airlift facility for the businessmen of Sialkot and London. He instructed the Marketing team to provide best services to passengers and cargo business clients of Sialkot and adjoining areas and in UK.

Earlier, the flight PK 778 reached Sialkot from London early Wednesday morning.The passengers were seen off by PIA Country Manager, Siraj Qazi and other airline officials at Heathrow Airport London.-

Source: PIA Press Release
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

Post by Pakistan-1 »

GEnx wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2019 12:59 pm
Amaad Lone wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2019 10:03 am The perfect time to convert an aircraft from passenger to cargo is at the age 15. PIA should consider converting two of their oldest 777s to cargo version and operate them to New York via London and back and maybe connect that flight to Hong Kong or Singapore. Two 777s converted to cargo can serve PIA well for another 10 years. Rather than upgrading 15 year old 777s convert them to cargo. Years ago when Pakistani economy was much smaller PIA has two 707Fs and two combis plus lots of belly space cargo. PIA Cargo should really hire some better people to fill up their aircraft.
I'm afraid that is not possible. Because presently, there is no B777 pax to cargo convertion program. Pax 777 has composite floor beam unlike the metal beam in B777F. So it cannot be readily converted. Although dedicated B777F can be acquired.
Tons A330F and A300-600F can be found at a reasonable rate
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

Post by ammad »

UK is very important market. PIA should focus only on expansion in UK for now. -- Direct flight is the probably the only Advantage PIA have and they have to use this option ruthlessly.

See what EK President is saying:

Tim Clark told Flight Global the UK accounts for 26% of EK's total capacity and is currently growing around 6-7% a year.

If you think those numbers are astonishing Tim Clark also stated the UK accounts for 56% of EK's total profit from their European operations. Out of 22 European countries and the UK, the UK accounts for more than half of EK's European operational profit.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... or-460720/

At the end of the video he address Brexit, he states the evidence he has seen does not suggest that there will be a collapse in demand for travel to or from the UK.

Source: https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtop ... &t=1431055
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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Sialkot International Airport advertisement in a magazine celebrating operation of PIA non-stop flights between Sialkot and London launched earlier this month.

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Re: PIA to Start Flights Between Sialkot and London - Aviation Minister

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Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) advertisement informing readers about PIA Sialkot to London Boeing 777 direct flight with code-sharing facility for onward travel to other European cities and Canada.

Facility of intercity bus and train service also mentioned.

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