Norse Atlantic UK Allowed to Operate Flights Between UK and Pakistan

[danyal77W]

I don’t have any sources, but for sure these ME3 are so greedy. They don’t want PIA to fly to UK or America, they were close to buy PIA. They would not even let it survive, they would buy PIA to steal our routes.

That’s why the Arif Habib, YB holdings and 3rd bidder (unknown popping buy surprise) are already scaring the ME3 airlines in this 2nd privatization attempt.

No one is scared of small poor airline like PIA. Even after privatization, huge inflow of money is not expected into PIA; we will see the same old poor PIA operating like a small regional airline. Let’s talk realistic. Nothing is going to change, everything will remain same even after privatization as they will have not so much money invested into it.

[t_kaay]

The logic of some people makes me laugh. On one hand we moan that there is a lack of "direct" flights between the UK and Pakistan and then, when a new carrier proposes to deliver the service we cry for, we manage to find an angle to find fault.

Are we seriously trying to compare a service provided by modern aircraft by Norse with the aged poor sub standard service that we get from PIA? You can wave the flag all you like, you can shout about being loyal to the national flag carrier, but let's face the bitter truth here......PIA are a shadow of what they were in the 70s and 80s and passengers just want convenience and a good level of service.

The consensus in the UK is that passengers want a direct service from London, Manchester and Birmingham to facilitate the elderly and those with young families, to avoid having to transit via Istanbul, Doha, Abu Dhabi or Dubai. If Norse provide this service, why the uproar? It should be an incentive to PIA to up its game, a bit of competition is good for the passenger. Instead, we have people who want PIA and nothing else.

As another poster suggested, Virgin only operated to Pakistan due to covid restrictions on their other routes. I used their Pakistan service. It was fantastic. Better than PIA, BA, Turkish and Etihad. Personally, I prefer Emirates as I use the opportunity to have a mini break in Dubai for a few days en route on my return. However, if I did want to fly direct, I'd use BA or Norse, before even considering PIA.

We should be happy that carriers are looking to expand into Pakistan. Yes, they are doing it for profit. Isn't that their business goal?? I say the more, the better. As for PIA, we should hope they get their house in order and compete with the others.

[PIA330]

I don’t have any sources, but for sure these ME3 are so greedy. They don’t want PIA to fly to UK or America, they were close to buy PIA. They would not even let it survive, they would buy PIA to steal our routes.

That’s why the Arif Habib, YB holdings and 3rd bidder (unknown popping buy surprise) are already scaring the ME3 airlines in this 2nd privatization attempt.

No one is scared of small poor airline like PIA. Even after privatization, huge inflow of money is not expected into PIA; we will see the same old poor PIA operating like a small regional airline. Let’s talk realistic. Nothing is going to change, everything will remain same even after privatization as they will have not so much money invested into it.

Ok, let’s see what happens after privatization.

[Averagespotter]

I don’t have any sources, but for sure these ME3 are so greedy. They don’t want PIA to fly to UK or America, they were close to buy PIA. They would not even let it survive, they would buy PIA to steal our routes.

That’s why the Arif Habib, YB holdings and 3rd bidder (unknown popping buy surprise) are already scaring the ME3 airlines in this 2nd privatization attempt.

No one is scared of small poor airline like PIA. Even after privatization, huge inflow of money is not expected into PIA; we will see the same old poor PIA operating like a small regional airline. Let’s talk realistic. Nothing is going to change, everything will remain same even after privatization as they will have not so much money invested into it.

Absolutely. If you look at the September 2023 9 month income statement of PIA, even though the airline makes a profit before tax, when the debt repayments are added in, all that profit turns negative. PIA needs hundreds of millions to get out of this debt cycle, let alone expand to the scale of the ME3 and BA. Not to mention I know so many people who flew to Paris via ME3 rather than Pia cause of the damaged reputation of the airline. There's a thin line between being optimistic and being delusional, and unfortunately a lot of us have crossed that line.

[HassanKhan]

I don’t have any sources, but for sure these ME3 are so greedy. They don’t want PIA to fly to UK or America, they were close to buy PIA. They would not even let it survive, they would buy PIA to steal our routes.

That’s why the Arif Habib, YB holdings and 3rd bidder (unknown popping buy surprise) are already scaring the ME3 airlines in this 2nd privatization attempt.

I bet the ME3 worries about competition from Air Koryo more than PIA. Everyone knows the mess this airline is in. If PIA is serving a common route to an ME3 airline the only time any one would want to fly PIA would be if they see it as a sign of national pride (as seems to be the case for @PIA330) or if they have a price advantage (very rare cause the passenger could find better price for value in another airline serving the sector)

TL;DR: no, they don't worry about PIA

[HassanKhan]

I don’t have any sources, but for sure these ME3 are so greedy. They don’t want PIA to fly to UK or America, they were close to buy PIA. They would not even let it survive, they would buy PIA to steal our routes.

That’s why the Arif Habib, YB holdings and 3rd bidder (unknown popping buy surprise) are already scaring the ME3 airlines in this 2nd privatization attempt.

No one is scared of small poor airline like PIA. Even after privatization, huge inflow of money is not expected into PIA; we will see the same old poor PIA operating like a small regional airline. Let’s talk realistic. Nothing is going to change, everything will remain same even after privatization as they will have not so much money invested into it.

Ok, let’s see what happens after privatization.

Unfortunately less than what you are expecting but, on the bright side, more than what we currently have.

[PIA330]

I have hope for PIA, I hope they can make up for those 35 years of the burden they faced.

[PIA330]

I still love PIA no matter what, and I use to fly PIA in my childhood.

[PIA330]

I don’t have any sources, but for sure these ME3 are so greedy. They don’t want PIA to fly to UK or America, they were close to buy PIA. They would not even let it survive, they would buy PIA to steal our routes.

That’s why the Arif Habib, YB holdings and 3rd bidder (unknown popping buy surprise) are already scaring the ME3 airlines in this 2nd privatization attempt.

No one is scared of small poor airline like PIA. Even after privatization, huge inflow of money is not expected into PIA; we will see the same old poor PIA operating like a small regional airline. Let’s talk realistic. Nothing is going to change, everything will remain same even after privatization as they will have not so much money invested into it.

Ok, let’s see what happens after privatization.

Unfortunately less than what you are expecting but, on the bright side, more than what we currently have.

It's pretty sad we have to Privatize PIA, but we got no choice. The taxpayers face a burden, we have other problems within PIA, but at the end I love their smooth landing and the food they serve.

YB Holdings has Pegasus Airlines in their Consortium and Arif Habib told on a interview Yesterday they are working with Foreign Investors to buy PIA. We don't know who the 3rd bidder will be (Could be Mian Mansha or some other Pakistani Company).

[rvlhassan]

The logic of some people makes me laugh. On one hand we moan that there is a lack of "direct" flights between the UK and Pakistan and then, when a new carrier proposes to deliver the service we cry for, we manage to find an angle to find fault.

Well said. I'm confused by the negative response to this. I think the unfortunate reality that some of us need to face is that PIA will not return to the UK for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, it is healthy to have more airlines flying direct. It on the one hand fosters competition that will somewhat result in a reduction of fares, but largely, it's a new airline entering Pakistan, serving genuine demand.

The idealistic rhetoric that I keep seeing here in recent days is simply immature. It's fine to view your airline as a symbol for national pride, but when one starts to glorify it to an extreme, it becomes an issue.

[PIA330]

It's flag carrier, Its a symbol of Pakistan no matter what Condition PIA is in. It should be treated with respect and loved by Pakistanis, I seen Pakistanis in America always cursing PIA in gatherings, and then later when they are at a event representing Pakistan then they always include photos of a PIA plane.

The condition of PIA is an issue, we have outdated planes and cabins, and its Loss making SOE (State Owned Enterprise). PIA had great service, food and does smooth landings.

Whoever among the 3 bidders win PIA like the YB Holdings (Tabba), Arif Habib and 3rd Bidder by surprise (Mian Mansha or some Pakistani Company), I have hope they will fix PIA and restore the Golden Times.

[rvlhassan]

The logic of some people makes me laugh. On one hand we moan that there is a lack of "direct" flights between the UK and Pakistan and then, when a new carrier proposes to deliver the service we cry for, we manage to find an angle to find fault.

Well said. I'm confused by the negative response to this. I think the unfortunate reality that some of us need to face is that PIA will not return to the UK for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, it is healthy to have more airlines flying direct. It on the one hand fosters competition that will somewhat result in a reduction of fares, but largely, it's a new airline entering Pakistan, serving genuine demand.

The idealistic rhetoric that I keep seeing here in recent days is simply immature. It's fine to view your airline as a symbol for national pride, but when one starts to glorify it to an extreme, it becomes an issue.

It's fine to view your airline as a symbol for national pride, but when one starts to glorify it to an extreme, it becomes an issue.

It's flag carrier, Its a symbol of Pakistan no matter what Condition PIA is in. It should be treated with respect and loved by Pakistanis, I seen Pakistanis in America always cursing PIA in gatherings, and then later when they are at a event representing Pakistan then they always include photos of a PIA plane.

The condition of PIA is an issue, we have outdated planes and cabins, and its Loss making SOE (State Owned Enterprise). PIA had great service, food and does smooth landings.

Whoever among the 3 bidders win PIA like the YB Holdings (Tabba), Arif Habib and 3rd Bidder by surprise (Mian Mansha or some Pakistani Company), I have hope they will fix PIA and restore the Golden Times.

No one is disrespecting PIA here. It's about being a realist - PIA is nowhere in the shape it used to be as you said. There is very clearly a market available between the UK and Pakistan and thus someone will want to take advantage of this, as Norse is.

[PIA330]

If no one does not want PIA to come to UK anymore, then let all the British carriers come to Pakistan. We can fly to other european cities, rather than UK. At least some other European country deserves PIA flights to come to their cities.

[TheAnalyst]

I don't understand the fuss people are making. Norse is a low-cost airline, altough this seems to me as a lease agreement and the business model depends on the people who have made an agreement. People don't care about whether its their home carrier, they care about the fare. The cheaper the fare, the better.

[rvlhassan]

The logic of some people makes me laugh. On one hand we moan that there is a lack of "direct" flights between the UK and Pakistan and then, when a new carrier proposes to deliver the service we cry for, we manage to find an angle to find fault.

Well said. I'm confused by the negative response to this. I think the unfortunate reality that some of us need to face is that PIA will not return to the UK for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, it is healthy to have more airlines flying direct. It on the one hand fosters competition that will somewhat result in a reduction of fares, but largely, it's a new airline entering Pakistan, serving genuine demand.

The idealistic rhetoric that I keep seeing here in recent days is simply immature. It's fine to view your airline as a symbol for national pride, but when one starts to glorify it to an extreme, it becomes an issue.

It's fine to view your airline as a symbol for national pride, but when one starts to glorify it to an extreme, it becomes an issue.

It's flag carrier, Its a symbol of Pakistan no matter what Condition PIA is in. It should be treated with respect and loved by Pakistanis, I seen Pakistanis in America always cursing PIA in gatherings, and then later when they are at a event representing Pakistan then they always include photos of a PIA plane.

The condition of PIA is an issue, we have outdated planes and cabins, and its Loss making SOE (State Owned Enterprise). PIA had great service, food and does smooth landings.

Whoever among the 3 bidders win PIA like the YB Holdings (Tabba), Arif Habib and 3rd Bidder by surprise (Mian Mansha or some Pakistani Company), I have hope they will fix PIA and restore the Golden Times.

No one is disrespecting PIA here. It's about being a realist - PIA is nowhere in the shape it used to be as you said. There is very clearly a market available between the UK and Pakistan and thus someone will want to take advantage of this, as Norse is.

There is very clearly a market available between the UK and Pakistan and thus someone will want to take advantage of this, as Norse is.

If no one does not want PIA to come to UK anymore

Literally no one is saying this.