Comments on: Growing presence of foreign airlines

By: Riaz

Riaz — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:40:35 +0000

how come the army and airforce personel operating PIA not a problem? have u ever worked in PIA or CAA? if u had, u would know how much power these uniformed ppl have in these organizations. Not everything is polotician’s fault in this country.

By: Masood Ali

Masood Ali — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:28:52 +0000

the army and airforce officers managing pia arnt the problem,its the the politicians who insist on giving their party workers jobs which are not necassary. pia is the only air line which has 3 times more staff per aeroplane than any other in the world.they cant sack or retire old and ugly airline hostesses.or aircrew, politicians use pia as thier own property.they or their family members dont pay.or any of the staff when they fly with pia.i agree with you on all the other points you mention.pia should be sold off,as bankrupt entity.

By: Ussama

Ussama — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:37:33 +0000

What can anyone expect from the only airline in the world which is run by Ministry of Defence. Decision makers, be it army men or politicians who decide about the airline, have no clue of aviation. The results are obvious. The airline cannot be run like the way it is being run and having hopes of betterment are a far cry. National airline can only breathe if army lets it, and politicians stop choking it through political appointees and unions.

By: Ali Hasan

Ali Hasan — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:34:22 +0000

i agree to you in totality mr. Eqbal Khan. success can never be achieved without professionalism. No doubt we have the best pilots in PIA but without proper aircraft, what good they can be as far as excellence in service is concerned. At the same time, management needs to be restructured and on all the points you mentioned above, not a single one is ignoreable.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 06:08:57 +0000

Due to low revenue and low business many foreign airlines have already closed their operations permenantly from Pakistan including recent departure of Malaysian Airlines. The security,economic and investment situation in country is poor.

By: Hornet

Hornet — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:36:49 +0000

Well said, a very good observation.

By: observer

observer — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:14:24 +0000

I don’t understand the sick minds that talk about not allowing foreign airlines to operate freely in Pakistan. Things should be open and business should be based on quality of goods and services through open competition. This mentality has ruined PIA and the country. It is very convenient to blame politicians for falling health of PIA. But a more thorough analysis is needed into the situation than starting with a bias against politicians. Pakistan is perhaps the only country where military government or technocrat government are options to Constitutional democray.

By: Eqbal Khan

Eqbal Khan — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:08:50 +0000

PIA – Well Anyone who ever traveled with them will testify to their un professional conduct, poor service and arrogant staff. But what we cannot see is incompetent ground crew that steals stuff from peoples luggage. Breakdown of PIA aircraft is a clear evidence of ground crew’s competence. What else? If you want to turn PIA around then you need to do the following:
1. Make it an independent corporation and not under the MOD.
2. Make Unions Illegal.
3. Take free tickets and passes away form the PIA staff.
4. Maybe Hire foreign competent Managers instead of Army and Air Force Guys.
5. Take Passengers serious. When there is a complaint then be ready to investigate.
6. Fire any and all the staff that does not work, takes long vacations etc.
7. Get rid of excessive staff and political appointees.
8. No more bail outs.

Well This is too wishful thinking. It is not going to happen.

By: S. A. M.

S. A. M. — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:05:24 +0000

Ofcourse when retired generals start to meddle in the affairs of aviation industry of which they have no inkling the national carrier is bound to nose dive. What is money to a secure air journey. Everyone would want to travel in an airline which is known for maintaining high security standards.

By: Ahmed

Ahmed — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:23:27 +0000

I am surprised at people who would argue against open sky policy. Let market forces determine who will succeed and fail. I think even CAA should be privatized. Imagine an airline that has more GM than aircrafts. Unions are nothing but a burden on a corporations in Pakistan.