Pakistan’s aviation industry failing to fly
Another notorious entity landed into court this week, probably because of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry himself. According to a report, “Already in the headlines for all wrong reasons, PIA again came under the flak on Monday when counsel Khalid Anwar requested the court to take a suo motu notice of the pathetic state of affairs in the airline. The request was made against the backdrop of Sunday’s incident when an Islamabad-bound PIA aircraft developed fault in one of its engines and was stuck at the Karachi airport for hours. The chief justice and some federal ministers were among the passengers.”
The report says, “The Pakistan International Airlines bemoaned in the Supreme Court on Monday that the unilateral grant of liberal traffic rights to foreign airlines was one of the reasons for the national flag carrier’s decline. It said Pakistan had become a lifeline for foreign carriers, mainly from the Gulf region, which were sucking away the resources of Pakistan (Pakistani passengers). The report regretted that foreign airlines had been increasing their capacity on Pakistan routes because of the facility of liberal traffic rights. Successive governments have allowed foreign airlines to fly to and out of the country without offering any reciprocal rights to PIA to fly to their countries.” Is PIA justified in blaming its substandard performance on foreign competition which it can’t seem to come to terms with? What about the unrelenting decline of customer services, which is a major part of the business that is being questioned by the court?
Another recent analysis states, “Pakistan recently allowed five international airlines to begin direct passenger and cargo flights from Sialkot International Airport. Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways and Emirates would start their operations from Sialkot soon. The number of international flights to various foreign destinations from the industrial city will reportedly rise to 45 from the existing 21 in a month.
The business community was thrilled. “The transport costs and the ability to respond to demand swiftly in a fast changing, competitive international market makes or breaks a business. Better connectivity will save local businesses time and money. Siakot will return favour by investing in modernisation of the airport and jacking up efforts to outperform their competitors in the international trade”, Mohammad Azam, a businessman from Sialkot commented.
“Sialkot is a big commercial centre with a motivated business community. The decision is a step in the right direction”, Zubair Motiwala, a known business leader said when reached over telephone.
The ministry that authenticated the government’s decision, however, did not share the euphoria. The ministry of defence, responsible for the aviation industry, detested the move that, it said, was forced on it. It believed the decision compromised national interests.
“People will still be happier if you allow them to travel free but would you do that?” a senior officer in the ministry asked when contacted in Islamabad for comments. “The sound economic decisions are not necessarily popular”, he answered without waiting for a reply. Why is the ministry not inclined to favour ‘sound economic decisions’? Why is fair and productive competition being regarded as detrimental? Could the fact that a self-absorbed ministry (that has too much on its plate in the first place) been given control of the aviation industry is proving out to be a disastrous decision?
With only three Pakistani airlines in the market, that seem are ever ready to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, what possible options are left for improvements in Pakistan’s aviation industry?
An airline should be run and managed by professionals. Lot of airlines of today, did not exist, when PIA was flying, the routes world over. PIA has been mother to some of the airline of to-day. More airlines are coming in. Merit should be for employment even if its on political recommendation.,
Main issue of PIA is political staffing. Senior management are all political appointees and therefore there is no risk to their jobs if PIA doesn’t perform. Their main concern is to serve the political party they belong to and not the airline. They hire people and because the previous staff cannot be fired so easily, they have an idol workforce which have nothing to do but take salaries.
This is a gift from our corrupt and incompetent politicians to the nation.
political staffing ?…. no, they are all retired army wallas
First, this is wrong caption that Pakistan Aviation Industry failing to fly…. we have potential, we have passengers but not the aircrafts. every single person needs to see himself in PIA (whichever duty is he performing), from porter to pilot and from PA, Middle Management, Management and Top Management – is every single person is performing 70% of his day performing his duty religiously.
Its not just government, its not just top management, its every one.
- Lets accept our population increased since by double since 1970s and the aircraft, which we had at time are more than what we have now and employees are much more than even double.
- Lets accept that Pilots are just drivers of an aircraft with qualification of HSC and a certification of flying only, they can not read financial statement of a commercial organizations.
- There is difference between an administrator and a person with commercial sense. Top Management of PIA is comprises of only administrators – not experts. Middle Management is sleeping because they have holidays to enjoy due to exciting HR policies.
- Lets accept at any given period, PIA 60% staff is sitting idol, doing nothing – out side of their offices being on holidays….
I can just wish being the part of this organization… nothing more.
A case in example is Emirates. Despite allowing tens of foreign airlines to operate in the Emirates and having other local airlines ie Etihad, Flydubai etc compete with Emirates it continues to do wonders !!
Avation industry is life line of the nation & econmic engine of state. PIA has a good name in avaition history. what happend to PIA?. Mismanagment is on the top, Political Influence, lack of proffessionalism, corruption are main cuase of decline of PIA in avaition industry. Besite of tall claim & rehtoric each governament fail to re-organize pakistan international air line.
PIA trying its best to come out from crises … and hope Insha Allah very soon under new management.
My dear you have not seen any thing yet. Call a spade a spade. The irony of this nation is, we don’t want to know the truth. Tie your camel and then say insha Allah
IATA membership doesn’t make its 1024K airlines (worldwide) members mandatory to give free yearly world tickets to their employees?Employee benefits completely depend upon employer,their financial capacity and nobody (IATA etc.) can force any employer to give generous luxurious benefits.
Well, first off, i must say that although PIA is in shambles, and the main reason that i find is overstaffing which in turn is directly related to , political staffing, which is a nation wide problem.
I also must disagree with some people that, PIA does not have good customer service. and Emirates or Eitihad has better, i am sorry but Emirate does not have good cabin crew customer service, they treat you as if they are doing a favor on you. For Me PIA has been always the best choice, for going to Pakistan, they try their utmost possible to facilitate all of their passengers no matter who is it. so PIA is a very good airline in regards of cabin crew and customer service. but and this is a big but, if PIA is not pulled out of the political mingling it will drown, whilst now it is swimming with a half deflated life jacket.