PIA to begin third flight for China from May 1

[Abbas Ali]

Sunday, 15 April 2007

BEIJING, Apr 15 (APP): Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has added one more flight in its network by introducing third flight for China beginning from May 1.

It was, earlier, proposed that the flight was to terminate in Islamabad on return from Beijing, but now its route has been extend upto Karachi, said the Country Manager of PIA, Syed Ishaq Hussain while talking to APP.

The flight PK-854 will originate on every Tuesday from the federal capital, and after 90-minutes stay at Beijing International airport will leave on its return voyage, Ishaq Hussain said.

The significance of the new flight, Ishaq said is that it will help facilitate the growing number of passengers including businessmen, industrialists and traders on this sector and also encourage Chinese tourists to visit Pakistan.

Ishaq said that the third flight would also help encourage tourists to visit and participate in different activities taking place as part of “2008- Destination Pakistan,” celebrations.

He said that there was great potential here for the airlines and PIA wants to get maximum benefit of it.

The PIA at present is operating two flights a week on Karachi-Islamabad-Beijing-Tokyo sector.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

Related Topics:

Topic: PIA to introduce two more flights each for China and Japan

Topic: PIA set to add an additional Islamabad-Beijing flight

Topic: PIA plans to operate six flights a week from China in 2007

[m2hassan]

what abt the shanghai flights ? There was a thread on it about operating twice a week . I think the airline isnt doing justice to itself but not serviing Shanghai and they already hold 5 th freedom rights to operate beyond towards US , which any American airline wud die for. Three weekly flights and going on further as the demand increases, to LA from Shanghai using a 772 should be good enough.

[Maddad]

If PIA has rights to operate Shanghai to USA, than it is a crime not to operate on that sector.
the 743 would be ideal for that, to the west coast or even to ORD or NYC with a stop in Anchorage what we need is to think outside the box.
Make inovative desicions if we are to survive.
Imagine the capacity increase if we can get 70% seat factor the empty coffers of PIA will be full again the aircraft are all paid for, only need operating costs no Financial charge.

[sadiqhassan]

PIA could make a fortune on PVG-USA-PVG flights.

Currently nonstop LAX-PVG goes for around USD 5000 rtn in Business and JFK-PVG USD 6500.

If PIA uses its new J class seats (that are on the 777s and some A310s - not sure about 747s) then it can compete with US carriers and MU (China Eastern Airlines.) However, I think that they would need to operate at least 3 or 4 x weekly in order to make it work.

[m2hassan]

There is already a market for LA from Pakistan. So , a 773 can actually be effective in making a profit all year round. I mean , this route is effectively combining sectors together in to one. A Pakistan-Shanghai sector , PAkistan- LA , Shanghai -LA and vis versa. They can also extend a few Beijing flights to LA or SF if they want but I dont think we have the spare planes to do that . A 743 could do the capactiy trick but it wont be much of a cost saving tool.

We all agree the route should be opened !

[Amaad Lone]

Any new service to Los Angeles or San Fransisco via China should be launched with the 777 fleet.

A large Pakistani community lives on the west coast, and PIA should be able to achieve good loads from either of the city, not really catering to the 5th freedom rights between China and the US west coast.

But that would be only possible once the EU ban on 747s and A310s is lifted allowing the 777s to fly to non-EU destinations.

What would be the flying time from L.A to Pakistan via Far East versus via Europe???

[m2hassan]

lets see 8 and a half hours to Manchester and then another 10 hours to LA. With the great process of emptying the whole plane at Manchester.

5 and a half hours to Shanghai and then 15 hours to LA over the Pacific Ocean. Same process so , give or take the same time but bigger market from China , actually let me correct that , A HUGE market from China.

[sadiqhassan]

via PVG

ISB-PVG is ~6h
PVG-ISB is ~7h

PVG-LAX is 11h 35m
LAX-PVG is 13h 45m

Flying Time
Out: 17h 35m
In: 20h 45m


via MAN

ISB-MAN 8h 30m
MAN-ISB 7h 45m

MAN-LAX ~11h
LAX-MAN ~10h 20m


Flying Time
Out: 19h 30m
In: 18h 05m

[javed]

SFO/LAX/Seattle to JFK 6-12 hours with change of flights enroute. Add 3-4 hours for JFK boarding, security, Immigration etc. You are 16 hours before even leaving US. Now add time to Lahore via MAN. Total is above 30 Hours. From HNL, it will be 40+ hours.

SFO-PKK is 12 hours. Add 6-7 hours PKK-LHE and 1 Hr stopover. Total is about 20 Hours.

Same holds true for YVR passengers in Canada.

PIA has 5th freedom rights from PKK per current bilateral with China, for US destinations. What is holding them to fly to US/Canada West coast, I do not know. Ask Kirmani why he dropped plans for LAX.

[javed]

So what happened to the 3rd flight to PEK. I do not see it on summer timetable.