Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is in negotiations with Boeing to switch out five Boeing 777s from a 2012 order for eight 787-8s, PIA CEO Bernd Hildenbrand confirmed to ATW.
“The 777s offer a bit too much capacity for our needs,” he said, adding negotiations are ongoing. “But Boeing has to confirm to us if the 787s are able to operate nonstop from Pakistan to Toronto.”
PIA’s 777-200LRs currently operate more than 14 hours on nonstop flights from Karachi and Lahore to Toronto.
Hildenbrand also told ATW the Pakistan flag carrier is phasing out its last Airbus A310s. “We are looking for additional A319s and A321s to streamline load factors, but the market for these aircraft is quite empty,” he said.
PIA’s domestic market share has increased from 40% to 56%. “There are 200 million people living in Pakistan—a huge potential. The operations of two other Pakistani carriers are not as sustainable compared to ours.”
In addition, PIA has to grow quickly to a certain size, so-called critical mass, to have a better position in the industry. “The plan is to operate about 60 aircraft in 2020; 100 aircraft by 2025,” he said. The airline currently operates 38 aircraft.
PIA, which recently launched premier service to London, has received “outstanding positive feedback from our passengers,” Hildebrand said. “Our image is improving constantly.”
On Aug. 14, PIA signed a wet-lease agreement with SriLankan Airlines for one A330, used primarily on a 6X-weekly premier service to London Heathrow. Later, the wet lease will be switched to a dry lease.
From October, a second A330 will join the fleet. “This will be a dry-lease arrangement, [which will enable us to] increase the number of flights to London to 10X-weekly, [and possibly add] services to Paris,” he told ATW.
PIA is considering using a third A330 to operate a 3X-weekly service to New York-JFK via Leipzig/Halle airport, Germany, instead of the current Manchester, UK.
“Manchester is a very expensive airport. Leipzig would give us the possibility of a much-needed comeback in Germany,” he said. The new route could be launched from Jan. 1, 2017, contingent on approval. PIA is considering hiring flight attendants in Germany.
Hildenbrand said airlines from Pakistan are not allowed to operate nonstop services to the US. US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented security measures at certain overseas airports, focusing especially on the safety of Pakistan’s airports.
“That means we have to land in another country on the way to the US, and do all safety and security checks again—for passengers and cargo.”
PIA is also considering services to Barcelona, Bangkok, and upgrading its network to Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
ATWOnline
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