PIA eyes UK return in August

[Karachi Aviator]

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is gearing up to resume direct flights to the United Kingdom from August 14, marking a significant development after four years.

The announcement comes as a boon for Pakistanis residing in the UK and Europe, offering them convenient and direct connectivity to their homeland.

A PIA spokesman hoped that the airlines would receive phase-wise permission from the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) this month. In a recent meeting with the Council of Economics and Energy Journalists, the spokesperson shed light on the airline's plans for expanding its operations.

As soon as the permission is granted, the PIA would resume services to Paris next month, adding that the PIA had expedited repair work on its 777 aircraft fleet to ensure compliance with safety standards and operational readiness for European and UK routes.

https://www.samaa.tv/2087314547-pia-set ... -in-august

[Amaad Lone]

If the approval is being granted on May 14th then why are the flights going to be planned for middle of August.

PIA will miss the entire summer season, which is usually peak season where fares are high.

[Karachi Aviator]

If the approval is being granted on May 14th then why are the flights going to be planned for middle of August.

PIA will miss the entire summer season, which is usually peak season where fares are high.

I assume that one potential reason why they want to wait till August is probably because of unavailability of aircrafts. Right now PIA has to do hajj operations, Canada and Malaysia, all which require 777s and also Paris which might resume next month.

Till August they might try to bring back AP-BID too and hajj operations will be completed as well by then.

[AviationLover2020]

I assume that one potential reason why they want to wait till August is probably because of unavailability of aircrafts. Right now PIA has to do hajj operations, Canada and Malaysia, all which require 777s and also Paris which might resume next month.

Till August they might try to bring back AP-BID too and hajj operations will be completed as well by then.

Seems like a stupid idea to prioritise Malaysia and even Paris/EU over UK, especially in the summer season when students/expats fly back and holiday-makers fly out.

[baberblues]

PIA needs a full network revaluation, at the moment it should use ISB as a transit hub to enable connections to domestic Pakistan cities. It should have some direct flights to Lahore and Karachi from the western world however ISB needs to be used to its full capacity now.

[TomcatTask]

What's the rationale in using Paris as a hub for Europe and beyond flights? Wouldn't a more central location like Germany or Italy be more efficient?

[Abbas Ali]

PIA intends to start twice-a-week service for Paris after getting clearance from European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) hopefully by the end of June/July this year, this was disclosed by CEO PIA Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat in live interaction session with Facebook users on May 13.

After obtaining EASA clearance, PIA intends to obtain permission from UK Department for Transport (DfT) to start flights between Pakistan and UK. The process of obtaining permission from UK authorities can take further three months after EASA clearance.

Pakistan status on UK Air Safety list:

Pakistan

All air carriers certified by the authorities with responsibility for regulatory oversight of Pakistan are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the United Kingdom. Carriers include but are not limited to the following:

Airblue Limited
AirSial
Pakistan International Airlines
SereneAir Private Ltd.
Vision Air International (Private) Ltd.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-air-safety-list#pakistan

Abbas

[arshad.altaf]

https://www.geo.tv/latest/543813-pakist ... resumption

LAHORE: In a positive development for Pakistan's aviation industry, the country's airlines' operations have come one step closer to restoration in Europe with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's (EASA) decision to lift the ban, The News reported on Monday.

Both the European Commission and the EASA have forwarded the decision to the European Air Safety Committee for approval, sources told the publication.

The development comes a day after a high-level delegation of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) headed by the CAA DG left for Europe to brief the authorities on the measures related to the restoration of flights by Pakistani airlines in European countries.

Meanwhile, another delegation, led by the secretary of aviation division is scheduled to leave for Brussels today to attend the upcoming European Air Safety Committee meetings from May 14 to 16.

It is pertinent to know that European authorities imposed a ban on the operation of Pakistani airlines in July 2020 after it came to light that pilots possessed "fake" licences, as put by the then aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar.

The ban was a big blow to the airline, which was already under scrutiny across the world due to recently uncovered pitfalls within Pakistan's aviation industry, such as pilots possessing "fake" licences as put by the aviation minister.

The startling revelations came as the aviation minister presented the interim report on the probe into the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) PK-8303 crash that resulted in the deaths of 85 passengers after the plane crashed in Karachi on May 22, 2020.

Following the report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed concern over the "serious lapse in licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator".

Subsequently, on June 24, the aviation minister announced that the qualifications of 262 pilots in Pakistan are "dubious" and thus they will be barred from flying.

The pilots that were in the line of fire included 141 from PIA, nine from Air Blue, and 10 from Serene Airline.

The rest of the 262 belonged to flying clubs or chartered plane services, the aviation minister had said.

EASA's decision to lift the ban indicates a potential renewal of third-country operators' licenses for the PIA and Vision Airlines.

While the ban on all other Pakistani airlines has been lifted, discussions during the meeting will primarily focus on PIA and Vision Air.

An EC spokesperson has clarified that there is no ban on other Pakistani airlines in European countries.

It is to be noted that EASA licenses, issued by the European Union, carry weight not only within EU member states but also in numerous other countries.

However, a PIA spokesperson has expressed unawareness of these recent developments but conveyed gratitude for the possibility of a favourable decision.

He emphasised the need to await the outcome of the European Air Safety Committee meeting.

[Karachi Aviator]

PIA's operations to EU will mainly be from the Northern areas (LHE / ISB) and not from Karachi for now said CEO Aamir Hayat citing factors like the open sky policy and high number of frequencies of airlines like Emirates out of Karachi.

He said because of the fierce competition out of Karachi, the revenue margins are very restricted. However he further stated that going forward, PIA will see what proposition will be formed for Karachi and accordingly, PIA will commit its resources.

[faisal-777]

PIA's operations to EU will mainly be from the Northern areas (LHE / ISB) and not from Karachi for now said CEO Aamir Hayat citing factors like the open sky policy and high number of frequencies of airlines like Emirates out of Karachi.

He said because of the fierce competition out of Karachi, the revenue margins are very restricted. However he further stated that going forward, PIA will see what proposition will be formed for Karachi and accordingly, PIA will commit its resources.

Karachi already is the cheapest airport to fly with EK QR TK to West. Not sure how PIA can beat the fares. He is right, they should focus on north (ISB/LHE).

[PK.786]

If I was pia I would start khi lhr flights via dxb and link all existing dxb flights ie pew isb lhe mux khi lyp skt to London flight make it a little hub ppl who use ek to stop at dxb will use all well

[Amaad Lone]

If

I was pia I would start khi lhr flights via dxb and link all existing dxb flights ie pew isb lhe mux khi lyp skt to London flight make it a little hub ppl who use ek to stop at dxb will use all well

Well thank god you are not PIA.

Worst idea I have ever heard. What will PIA gain moving its London flights via Dubai.

why not fly Emirates, Qatar, Turkish or Etihad if you have to transit.

PIA only makes sense on direct flights.

[PK.786]

I'm not talking about direct flights from isb lhe. Pk 787 which use to operate direct to London 3 times a week which use to be empty most of the time. I'm saying use dxb as a link other destination from pk to fill the plane and pick up traffic from dxb to lhr and before it won't work ek have more options royal brunie have been doing this for years. If have isb to lhr 4xweek khi dxb lhr 3 x week lhe lhe 3 x week this way u can offer flights from pew skt mux lyp extra revenue