PIA To Resume Manila-Karachi Flights

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 3:26 pm

MANILA, Dec 19 Asia Pulse - Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will resume its Manila-Karachi flights early in 2007.

Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan of the Pakistan Embassy said that the service, which was disrupted five years ago, will stop over at Bangkok and continue to Tokyo from Manila.

Khan said that the PIA has already secured approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

He added PIA aircraft are expected to fly over India, owing to the warmer diplomatic relations between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The airline expects many passengers, mostly Japanese investors, a number of whom are married to Filipino women and who visit both the Philippines and Pakistan.

"Once these flights will resume, we will also get our share of traffic to the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. We will also promote Bangkok and Tokyo," Khan said.

On the other hand, Jane Escudero of PIA's reservation department said the airline will use Airbus A310 that have 184 seats in all - 12 for business class, 40 for economy and the remaining 132 for flying coach.

Escudero said PIA will also invite local travel agents and tour operators to a familiarization tour of South Asian countries.

At present, five airlines fly from Manila to Pakistan.

These are Cathay Pacific, thrice a week to Karachi via Hong Kong; Emirates, six times a week to Karachi and Lahore and four times weekly to Islamabad via Dubai; Malaysia Airlines, daily to Karachi via Kuala Lumpur; Singapore Airlines, six times a week to Karachi and Lahore via Singapore; and Thai Airways, six times a week to Karachi and Lahore and four times weekly to Islamabad via Bangkok.

Source: Yahoo News

Amaad Lone · Post by **Amaad Lone** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 4:31 pm

A bus route, Karachi-Bangkok-Manila-Tokyo.

Also that using an A310-300.

Poor planning.

The flight should go Karachi-Bangkok-Manila, and terminate there.

The Tokyo service should not have so many stops.

AirBlue · Post by **AirBlue** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:32 pm

WHY BANGKOK ALL THE TIME !!!!!!!!!!1

Can they just not fly to manila and then to tokyo if they have to ... they are doing such a poor planning on the eastern routes! always! arghh

behramjee · Post by **behramjee** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:34 am

Amaad Lone wrote:A bus route, Karachi-Bangkok-Manila-Tokyo.

Also that using an A310-300.

Poor planning.

The flight should go Karachi-Bangkok-Manila, and terminate there.

The Tokyo service should not have so many stops.

absolutely...but try explaining to the ppl in the Route Network Planning / Flight Scheduling Departments who have no idea how big of a loss this route structure would generate from DAY 1 !!!

PIA flew this exact same route in the 1990s with a pax B 747-200 twice a week.

F27 · Post by **F27** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:22 am

This route should be operated with the B747-Combi. Instead of Bangkok it should either be Singapore or Hong Kong where PIA engine overhaul takes place. Will ease pressure on Jawed Shaikh's Aeroexchange.

Moin · Post by **Moin** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:49 pm

PIA did fly this route with a 74M in the past.

They're still using the routing operated in the 60's and 70's.

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 8:40 am

I remember it was operated by the DC-10 and later on by the B747. I would also like to see PIA fly this route by the Combi.