PK back to IAH?

[Jacobin777]

Houston has a large Pakistani and Indian community, the backbone of PIA in any city.

Yet it has not been able to operate two weekly 777s to Houston.

I think the marketing department at Houston needs to be replaced.

What is the PIA fare to Lahore from Houston direct, versus if someone was to fly via London on a US carrier.

That might explain why PIA has not been able to attract passengers.

Fare's change all the time and different agents/consolidators quote different rates, but the last time I checked (Dec '06) PIA IAH-LHE Direct was $1200ish in Y and $2100 in J. Compare that to CO/EK with two connection points (LGW, DXB) and 1 to 4 hours transit time at each point: Y $1050 J: $3800. PIA's J fare is a no-brainer by comparison.

Which makes it look all the more pathetic...PK should have this section all to themselves..

That being said....2x-3x weekly with a B787-8 would suit this route very, very well...

Well..at least a 2x/weekly service with a media blitz....

Jacobin777,

You have to remember that the Houston route is entirely a politically motivated route. To put it bluntly, moneys were paid, promises were made, certain govt. officials got rich, certain people got a jammy job and a foreign posting, flights were started and the people of Pakistan were left to foot the bill.

While the direct flights have been very useful for many in Texas including myself, I have to agree that IAH is a losing route. I wish PIA had more business savvy - there is a good chance this route could have been profitable had they implemented it with the proper agreements with Continental, marketed the MAN-IAH sectors appropriately and if the other facets that make an airline world class were more in evidence.

Hey, I absolutely agree with you..but its a shame..I was hoping with PK's supposedly new "disclipine", they would end such egregious shananigans....looks like some things dont' change...

PK is better off using their MAN rights to service LAX....which has a large Pakistani population..

[Amaad Lone]

When PIA first started Chicago flights (via New York), years ago it pulled a major blunder.

PIA would sell you a ticket from Chicago to Pakistan via New York, for a $1,000, but if you boarded the same flight from Chicago to Pakistan it cost $1,200 or $200 more.

The Chicago to New York portion on American Airlines was included in the $1,000.

It resulted in low load factors from Chicago and all the traffic boarded from New York, forcing PIA to close down Chicago.

Is PIA pulling a similar blunder with Houston again.

How much would it cost to fly Houston-New York-Pakistan on PIA versus direct from Houston to Pakistan.

Maybe PIA should reduce Houston fares to increase load factor hopefully allowing an increase in frequency to twice weekly.

A $150 more expensive ticket on PIA can be a lot when an entire family is traveling, which is usually the case during wedding and holiday season.

[CoyBoy]

Karachi people will not be taking PIA to IAH with Emirates starting their nonstop 777LR service.

[Jacobin777]

Karachi people will not be taking PIA to IAH with Emirates starting their nonstop 777LR service.

that's what I've been saying, who in their right mind will want to fly on PK's rustbucket 74M when one can fly on a brand new state-of-the art B772LR...?

PK needs some B787's to fly nonstop to these long thin routes....

[smarties]

Karachi people will not be taking PIA to IAH with Emirates starting their nonstop 777LR service.

Well, have you seen the timings of those new EK flights? The EK flights arrives into DXB from IAH at 19:35. The connecting flight to KHI leaves DXB at 01:30. That is a 6 hour wait.

What PIA need to do is fly to IAH at least 3 times a week on the 777-200ER. Now what PIA need to is make available the MAN-IAH-MAN available on the internet as Jacobin777 said earlier. PIA fares are excellent on this route, but fail to promote them on websites. Look what EK have recently done with their 3 JFK flight, they have routed in via Hamburg, and the Hamburg-New-York sector is doing very well alone.

Most people now buy their tickets on websites. Infact, they need to make available all their flights on travel websites for people to see. If they did that it would work really in thier favour. I'm sure the MAN-JFK-MAN,MAN-IAH-MAN flights would be full all year round alone. No airline flies direct from MAN-JFK at the moment either.

Basically, PIA have to compete with airlines like EY,QR,GF etc. etc. Whenever i see flights to KHI on the net, i never see PIA fares. PIA need come into the 21 century by promoting their excellent fares through the internet more like the other airlines are.

I really hope EY or EK take over soon, they are the only people to sort out this airline with so much potential.

[SalamPaks]

If EK takes over PIA management, it will be difficult for them to resist the urge to convert PIA into a to a regional airline with hourly flights from every Pakistani city to just one international destination. Yes mate, Dubai.

[behramjee]

Well, have you seen the timings of those new EK flights? The EK flights arrives into DXB from IAH at 19:35. The connecting flight to KHI leaves DXB at 01:30. That is a 6 hour wait.

Yeah so?

On the KHI-DXB-IAH leg, there is a 2 hour wait time in DXB...perfect

And on the way back its 6 hours...a majority of Pakistanis do not mind a 6 hr wait in DXB as they are attracted by its duty free etc.

Trust me, this 6 hour transit is ok and wont discourage any IAH based Pakistani bound pax from flying EK.

What PIA need to do is fly to IAH at least 3 times a week on the 777-200ER. Now what PIA need to is make available the MAN-IAH-MAN available on the internet as Jacobin777 said earlier.

No...to save $$$, PIA should not venture into the IAH market again period !! It has proven to be a failed experiment and its time to scout greener pastures i.e. LAX.

From December onwards, PIA cannot compete against a more convenient EK flight which flies daily via DXB.

Most people now buy their tickets on websites.

Most people yes...but 95% of PIAs passengers go to a travel agent and not an internet site! Infact, I can assure you that from Canada at least 100% of the passengers bound for Pakistan buy their tkts from a local desi agent and not online as local agents/consolidators are cheaper than online websites.

The same thing can be said in USA too as the only website offering cheap deals to PAK and that too KHI only is www.orbitz.com

that's what I've been saying, who in their right mind will want to fly on PK's rustbucket 74M when one can fly on a brand new state-of-the art B772LR...?

precisely...its a no brainer here

PIA would sell you a ticket from Chicago to Pakistan via New York, for a $1,000, but if you boarded the same flight from Chicago to Pakistan it cost $1,200 or $200 more.

The Chicago to New York portion on American Airlines was included in the $1,000.

It resulted in low load factors from Chicago and all the traffic boarded from New York, forcing PIA to close down Chicago.

lol

[smarties]

Quote:

Well, have you seen the timings of those new EK flights? The EK flights arrives into DXB from IAH at 19:35. The connecting flight to KHI leaves DXB at 01:30. That is a 6 hour wait.

Yeah so?

On the KHI-DXB-IAH leg, there is a 2 hour wait time in DXB...perfect

And on the way back its 6 hours...a majority of Pakistanis do not mind a 6 hr wait in DXB as they are attracted by its duty free etc.

Trust me, this 6 hour transit is ok and wont discourage any IAH based Pakistani bound pax from flying EK.

My dear, A 6 hour transit time might not discourage you, but i am sure it will put loads of people off. This flight is already really long, and an extra 6 hours added to it will make it even worse. I am not talking about the KHI-DXB-IAH flight. This EK flight would probably take at least 25 hours+ from KHI-IAH.

I know some people who recently flew KHI-YYZ on PIA in business class and they said 14 hours was too long, even though they said the service and products were fantastic. However, they much prefer a stop in MAN.

EK's DXB-IAH will be 17 hours and that will put alot of people off itself.

Quote:

What PIA need to do is fly to IAH at least 3 times a week on the 777-200ER. Now what PIA need to is make available the MAN-IAH-MAN available on the internet as Jacobin777 said earlier.

No...to save $$$, PIA should not venture into the IAH market again period !! It has proven to be a failed experiment and its time to scout greener pastures i.e. LAX.

From December onwards, PIA cannot compete against a more convenient EK flight which flies daily via DXB.

PIA should indeed continue IAH. What they need to do is make improvements and modifications as people would much prefer a direct service to Pakistan. Again, the 6 hour transit time by EK will work into PIA's favour.

Quote:

Most people now buy their tickets on websites.

Most people yes...but 95% of PIAs passengers go to a travel agent and not an internet site! Infact, I can assure you that from Canada at least 100% of the passengers bound for Pakistan buy their tkts from a local desi agent and not online as local agents/consolidators are cheaper than online websites.

I was talking about MAN-JFK-MAN and MAN-IAH-MAN flights should at least be available on the internet for English/American passengers wishing to travel those sectors, after all they buy their tickets on the net, and they should serve that demographic. I still feel that PIA need to make available all their flights on the net.

If EK takes over PIA management, it will be difficult for them to resist the urge to convert PIA into a to a regional airline with hourly flights from every Pakistani city to just one international destination. Yes mate, Dubai.

Not if EK or someother airline puts in a 50% share in PK. EK have a large share in UL, they are doing really well, and they are no regional airline.