Pakistani airlines to increase capacity for more business

[Abbas Ali]

Pakistan National Aviation Symposium-2007

Monday, 12 March 2007

KARACHI, Mar 12 (APP)- Pakistani airlines, both in the public and private sectors, will have to increase their capacity and bring in new technology, to grab major share of 12 million passengers per annum - 7 million international and 5 million domestic passengers.

According to IATA forecast for Pakistan, the passenger traffic here is growing at 7.4 percent per annum and during the next 5 years, this traffic size is expected to increase to 20 million international and domestic passengers.

This was highlligted by speakers at the opening ceremony of first-ever one-day " Pakistan National Aviation Symposium-2007" held at a local hotel here Monday.

At the symposium, the present aviation scenario in Pakistan and future prospects and marketing prospects fo r majorand smaller aircraft and their engines manufacturers were highlighted.

The symposium was organised by AirBlue airline and attended by representatives of PIA, Aero Asia, Shaheen Airlines, CAA besides major players in the field of aviation like Boeing, Airbus, ATR, General Eelectric, Pratt and Whitney, Embraer, Bombardier, financial institutions.

Giving an eloquent presentation, Senior Vice President PIA, Kamran Hasan, noted that it is for the first time in Pakistan that a symposium on aviation is being held to discuss growth of aviation in Pakistan and its future.

He spoke about world-wide development taking place in the field of aviation, the establishment of PIA in 1954 and its growth in 70s and 80s, emergence of several new airlines, specially in the Gulf Region and the challenges offered by them.

Of late, he pointed out, most airlines have been hit by ever rising fuel prices whose effect is also trickling down to PIA.

He said that out of seven airlines allowed in the private sector, only three have survived and were in operation as today. However, things are expected to improve in future.

Kamran pointed out that at present only a total of 55 aircraft are operating to cater for passenger traffic of 12 million which needs to be around 100 in the next 2-3 years.

He said the IATA forecast of passenger growth for Pakistan is 7.4 percent while revenue growth has been put at 4.8 percent.

SVP PIA cautioned that if this scenario was not kept in mind and the airlines would not work collectively and maintain base-line fare, they will have to face more serious challenges in future.

" They will not only have to maintain base-line fare but also increase the capacity and bring in new technology", he said and added that it is here where role of the Regulator comes in.

He emphasised that aviation today is heavilydependent on technology and airline's survival would lay in carrying passengers point to point.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

On the Net:

AirBlue

PIA

Aero Asia

Shaheen Air International

CAA - Pakistan

[PK777]

Sounds good... hope it was worth it!

[DEZI]

He emphasised that aviation today is heavilydependent on technology and airline's survival would lay in carrying passengers point to point.
If technology is the key then why PIA opted for leasing L-1011 for HAjj and why it leased the vintage A310s. If you have next of kin in airline business other than PIA you can't make profits.
I don't understand the term 'point to point'. I do hope PIA is capable of carrying passengers from point to point. Unless Kamran is referring to PINDI POINT and KASHMIR POINT.

[Abbas Ali]

Domestic airlines asked to fly beyond Gulf

KARACHI: Director Air Traffic Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Tahir Ehsan Malik on Monday gave a cold shoulder to domestic airlines, saying they should expand operations beyond the Gulf region instead of seeking incentives to compete with international carriers.

Speaking to newsmen here on the sidelines of an aviation conference, he said authorities were aiming to attract as many international airlines as possible, especially from the Far East region.

To a question, he said flying permission to Air Arabia would have no major impact on domestic airlines as the Sharjah-based carrier had been offered limited seats. “Under the new policy, domestic airlines are free to go to any place with available capacity,” he said, naming Europe and Far East regions as potential areas.

Referring to demand of domestic airlines for a level-playing field and other incentives, he said they had restricted themselves to the Gulf countries. “In a way this is helping Gulf airlines, which are taking their (domestic airlines) passengers to further destinations.”

Earlier, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chief Operation Officer of Airblue, which organised the first Pakistan National Aviation Symposium 2007, said while the government was liberalising the aviation sector, it should ensure a level-playing field for all the players.

“Government is opening up the sector, but domestic airlines should also be given tax incentives or something else,” he said when asked if he saw low-fare Air Arabia cutting passenger traffic from domestic airlines. Delegates from all the major aircraft manufacturers including Airbus, Boeing, ATR and Embraer briefed the audience on their new line of products.

Source: The News

[behramjee]

Pakistan National Aviation Symposium-2007

Airblue CEO's Mr Shahid personally invited me to this seminar yesterday which I attended and it was good...Boeing and Airbus gave good presentations...PIAs Mr Kamran Hassan (Senior Vice President) gave a medicore speech cribbing about various things etc.

But I had really nice conversations with Airblue's Mr Shahid, Mr Nasir and Mr Khwaja Ahad (ex PIA 28 years and very smart man).

Airblue will be starting on June 1st ISB-MAN flights with either an A 343 ex Air Madrid plane or A 321 via Ankara...flts are going to be 4 weekly.