PIA may switch five 777s order for eight 787s

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

First Pictures of PIA's Airbus A330

Pakistan International Airlines is launching a premier service this month on 14th August. They will be featuring wide body planes with more space for passengers and better service offerings for their premier service, just in time for the Independence Day celebrations.

PIA’s New A330 Aircrafts

PIA has leased 3 Airbus A330 aircraft from Sri Lankan Airlines on a wet lease.

The wet lease means that the aircraft will be operated by a Sri Lankan crew but the aircraft will be painted with the PIA logo on the outside. They will be travelling 11 hours a day, with costs ranging from $88,000 per plane per day or $264,000 for all three planes per day.

Launch Details for PIA’s Premier Service

The leased aircraft will be used for the Islamabad-London “premier service” which will be inaugurated by PM Nawaz Sharif on 14th August.

The first flight of the premier service PK-785 will be departing from Islamabad airport at 14:00 hours on 14th August.

The new service will have a professional crew with services offered on par with the international airlines. Maryam Nawaz, the PM’s daughter had tweeted pictures of the new aircraft earlier as well.

Barely Holding Up

It is widely believed that standards at the national carrier need massive improvement. The premier service aims to reclaim some of that prestige that PIA was famous for a few decades ago before political mismanagement and nepotism ruined it.

If the standards of this new service are demonstrated to be at par with those of international airlines, PIA’s newest investment may work out for the better. This is because the national airline is already criticized for offering subpar service with a price that doesn’t justify their existing level of service.

On top of that PIA is neck deep in losses. Sources indicate that the decision to buy these new aircrafts despite increasing losses for the airline did not sit well with the board of directors of PIA either.

There are only 3 days left until the launch of the premier service. Whether this new service represents a newer and better PIA or not will become evident in the coming weeks.

Propakistani

PIA introduces A333 to London/Heathrow

Pakistan International Airlines next week is introducing Airbus A330-300 aircraft operations, initially operating service to London Heathrow route, based on this week’s schedule update. The leased SriLankan Airlines aircraft is currently scheduled to operate following service.

eff 14AUG16 Islamabad – London Heathrow
PK785 ISB1030 – 1500LHR 333 3
PK785 ISB1145 – 1615LHR 333 7
PK785 ISB1310 – 1740LHR 333 1

eff 16AUG16 Lahore – London Heathrow
PK757 LHE1045 – 1555LHR 333 46
PK757 LHE1050 – 1600LHR 333 2

At present time, inbound flights to ISB and LHE continues to display Boeing 777 operation. Further changes remain possible.

Routesonline

PIA A320 flight PK451 at Islamabad, hydraulic failure results in runway excursion

A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration AP-BLA performing flight PK-451 from Islamabad to Skardu (Pakistan), was climbing out of Islamabad's runway 30 when the crew stopped the climb at FL150 reporting a hydraulic failure and decided to return to Islamabad. The aircraft entered a hold while the crew worked the checklists and burned off fuel, the aircraft subsequently positioned for a landing on runway 30, touched down safely at 13:35L (08:35Z) but veered right off the runway and came to a stop with all gear on soft ground. There were no injuries, the aircraft however received foreign object damage to one of the engines (CFM56).

The airline confirmed the aircraft developed hydraulic problems and therefore returned to Islamabad.

Metars:
OPRN 080900Z 13008KT 7000 SCT040 34/25 Q1004.6/29.67
OPRN 080830Z 13006KT 9999 SCT040 33/25 Q1005.6/29.70

Map:

Engine Damage:

The Aviation Herald

PIA to lease 3 Airbus A330 from SriLankan

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) signed a wet-lease agreement with SriLankan Airlines for three A330s, PIA CEO Bernd Hildenbrand confirmed to ATW.

“The first aircraft will be delivered [from Aug. 1], while the rest [will come] in the following months,” PIA said July 29.

According to the Pakistan flag carrier, the A330s will be used primarily for a 6X-weekly premier service to London Heathrow, which is being launched Aug. 14. Three weekly flights will be operated from Islamabad and three from Lahore.

“Our main airport is Karachi, but the metropolis is no longer the center it once was. The best business for PIA will be generated from Islamabad and Lahore,” PIA CEO Bernd Hildenbrand told ATWrecently.

With the A330s, more professional crew and improved service standards, PIA wants to deliver a more positive experience to passengers, to regain its market share, according to the statement.

“The carrier has become rather old-fashioned over the years. We want to change this, improve the product, and bring PIA to a standard similar to that of other world carriers,” Hildenbrand said, adding the carrier is on a fundamental path of change, encouraged by the government, to move into a new era.

PIA’s premier service should be expanded to other destinations as more aircraft arrive.

In addition to the three wet-leased A330s, up to five of the airline’s 11 Boeing 777s will be reconfigured with new business- and economy-class cabins, new inflight entertainment systems and services. The first reconfigured aircraft should be available from February 2017.

SriLankan has been facing increased competition, especially from Gulf carriers, and this fall will close two out of three European services—Frankfurt and Paris.

ATWOnline

PIA A313 near Lahore on Jun 20th 2016, engine shut down in flight

A PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A310-300, registration AP-BEQ performing flight PK-853 from Islamabad to Lahore (Pakistan), was holding at Lahore when the crew reported a problem with the right hand engine (CF6), shut the engine down and declared emergency. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Lahore's runway 18L.

The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground for 13 hours, then resumed service.

Lahore Airport features a CATIIIb capable ILS for runway 36R, a CATI ILS for runway 36L and non precision approaches for runways 18L/R.

Metars:
OPLA 202055Z 14007KT 4000 FU NSC 31/23 Q1000 NOSIG 
OPLA 202025Z 14007KT 4000 FU FEW100 31/23 Q1000 
OPLA 201955Z 14009KT 4000 FU FEW100 31/23 Q1000 NOSIG 
OPLA 201925Z 13008KT 4000 FU FEW100 32/23 Q1000 
OPLA 201855Z 12006KT 4000 FU FEW100 32/23 Q1000 NOSIG 
OPLA 201825Z 10007KT 4000 FU FEW100 32/23 Q1000 
OPLA 201755Z 10008KT 4000 FU FEW100 32/23 Q1000 NOSIG 
OPLA 201725Z 11006KT 4000 FU FEW100 32/23 Q1000 
OPLA 201655Z 12006KT 4000 FU FEW100 33/23 Q1000 NOSIG 
OPLA 201625Z 10006KT 4000 FU SCT100 33/23 Q0999 

Incident: PIA A313 near Lahore on Jun 20th 2016, engine shut down in flight