Following the controversial suspension of flights to New York Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced suspensi the n of operations to Kuwait and Salalah, Oman due to internal issues facing the national carrier.
It was reported that PIA’s accumulated loss has jumped beyond Rs 319 billion as of March-end 2017 and in a move to streamline the national carrier all non performing routes were being dropped.
“Passengers of flights for Kuwait and Salalah (Oman), which will be temporarily suspended, will be re-accommodated through convenient alternatives. However, the resumption of operations will be considered based upon commercial merit and viability,” said a statement issued by PIA.
Experts believe that PIA is suffering at the hands of foreign airlines adding that Middle Eastern airlines pose the biggest threat to PIA’s market share.
Moreover PIA now faces losing 4 aircrafts as they are on the verge of completing the tenure under the wet lease. However PIA is expected to bring in more aircrafts on a dry lease now.
PIA is looking to introduce new destinations and increase flights to Saudi Arabia and China after comprehensive analysis and evaluations, said a PIA spokesperson.
“PIA has prepared a detailed business plan with focus on reduction in operating losses by minimising the cost structure and optimisation of revenues as a consequence of improvement in overall product and customer experience,” he added
It is also worth mentionting that PIA recently presented its business plan to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for approval.
The company official said that flights to Jeddah will be increased from 28 to 31 per week and Medina from 9 flights to 10 per week.
Keeping in view demand related to CPEC, flights to Beijing are also being doubled from 2 to 4 per week with operations from Islamabad and Karachi. Similarly, capacity on domestic routes is also being increased to provide better connectivity. New destinations, Guangzhou in China, Al-Qasim in Saudi Arabia and Mashad for Zaireen will also start, the statement said.
In this regard, the interiors of all existing Boeing 777 fleet are being upgraded.
“These efforts will be instrumental in re-structuring the airline through network rationalisation, product improvement and reduced cost base.”
