PIA abolishes protocols for govt officers
94
RAWALPINDI: In order to put an end to the VIP culture, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) scrapped all protocols and extraordinary arrangements for government and non-government officials across the country.
This was done on the directive of the airlines’ president Air Marshal Arshad Malik who asked the PIA to follow the regular procedure at all level.
The president and chief executive officer of the national flag-carrier will also not be able to enjoy protocol and extraordinary arrangements.
The PIA also launched an austerity campaign and withdrew staff reserved for facilitating the cabin crew members and redeployed them on their normal duties at airports across Pakistan.
According to sources, the PIA management put an end to the special treatment being provided to its pilots and cabin crew.
The facilitating staff has been withdrawn leaving the airlines’ crew members to handle their baggage on their own.
The staff has been redeployed on normal duties, including wheelchair handling. In addition, the cabin crew rooms have also been abolished.
The airlines claimed that the move was part of ongoing reforms and austerity steps and to improve service delivery.
The PIA was providing loaders to the cabin and cockpit crew at the time of boarding and disembarking for carrying their luggage. The loaders were provided extra allowances for the special duties.
The airline management had to provide a separate room for loaders with a telephone facility at each airport where at least three to four loaders remained on an alert and had to carry the baggage of crew members, including pilots, stewards and airhostesses.
“Sometimes the loaders also got tips from crew members for carrying their baggage to and from the airplane,” a senior official of the airlines said, adding this facility had continued for about 30 to 40 years.
None of the other airlines was offering such a facility to their crew members.
A PIA spokesman said the loaders had been redeployed for facilitating passengers, especially those with special needs. The redeployed staff will help passengers using wheelchairs during arrival and departure.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2019
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Comments (94) Closed
Jan 09, 2019 08:07am
Fantastic news.. finally for the first time PIA has taken the right step, there is hope and a BIG thank you to IK for setting up an example. If we follow these steps PIA will do very well financially, also fire all the people who got jobs because of Zardari and Nawaz.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:15am
Good move. Hope PIA can sustain this policy . Good luck and please look other leaks and waste of manhours in other departments too .
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Jan 09, 2019 08:17am
Good move. Chairman sahib make every effort to reduce the losses of the airline. Asghar Khan and Noor Khan played great role in making this airline world famous. Similar performance is required from you.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:20am
About time some some woke up and removed all spacial vip treatment.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:23am
Do the same for PIA senior officers , captains and their families.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:24am
Good move
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Jan 09, 2019 08:26am
#PIA eventually did something good after 40 years & streamlined itself with all the other airlines on this planet. Pilots & Cabin crew members of other global airlines travel to/from airports using public transportation like buses or trains & handle their bags by themselves. No VIP treatments are given to either PIA's crew members or any Pakistani officials in any other country. Why Pakistani taxpayer public had been treated like a second-class citizens & these so-called VIPs acting like British Colonial Masters ? #NoMoreVIPculture
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Jan 09, 2019 08:27am
So the loader is the real problem and cutting there spéciale allowance will balance PIA financial defecit ? Who will address free tickets , extra labor associated with no productivity . Bring back the old will . Great people to fly with.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:31am
About time. Excellent move.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:32am
It's such a beautiful news.' Respect for all' inshallah.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:43am
Loss-making Airlines PIA.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:44am
Too little too late
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Jan 09, 2019 09:02am
@Shujaat Khan, 'Do the same for PIA senior officers , captains and their families.'
That is what has been done (as I understand). All facilities and previlages are withdrawn for PIA senior officers, captains and their family, but facility and previlages are also withdrawn from government officers. I remember few years ago, I took my friend, a grade 21 DMG (presently PAS) officer to London Heathrow airport flying back to Pakistan. It was partial shock to me when I saw PIA staff running around to accomodate him and treating him like King.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:03am
So PIA is on the path of profit.. Great news..
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Jan 09, 2019 09:10am
Please takeaway all VVIP, VIP and privilege facilities of any types from pilots, crew members and all other staffs immediately. In USA, airline pilots and crew members either drive their own vehicles to hotels and then take public transportation or take public buses to airports. I have seen it in New York JFK airport. Why our 3rd world country’s pilots and crews are so special? This is either the time to fix the problems or sell the airline to some private company and then they will realize how they will be doing business.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:12am
That’s not even peanuts . Eliminate half of staff , take away perks like free tickets for employees and family members , trim top management and remove their perks and bonuses too .
Make pilots and enigineering and plane technicians part of govt. essential service so that PIA is not used by people as launching pads for employnent at airlines from gulf .
Of course , none of these will ever be considered and we will talk about incremental measures while ignoring the proverbial elephant in the room .
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Jan 09, 2019 09:32am
No doubt the current situation of this organisation is in shambles.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:37am
Thanks Arshad Malik and Imran Khan. Leadership make the difference
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Jan 09, 2019 09:39am
Senator Mushadullah is very upset
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Jan 09, 2019 09:41am
Should stop giving tickets to retirees too
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Jan 09, 2019 09:43am
Good step, well done.Keep it up.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:44am
Only airline in the world, providing VIP facilities to its Cabin Crew, while making loses, for last 40 years. It took them 40 years to wake up. Salute to their common sense !!!
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Jan 09, 2019 09:51am
No where in the world, cockpit and cabin crew are pampered like that. I have seen PIA crew at foreign destinations handling there own baggage without any hesitation.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:53am
Please eliminate the massive corruption, mismanagement and nepotism from within the PIA. Just abolishing protocols is not enough.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:53am
Thank you IK, you have done something in your first year, which NS couldn't do in last 30 years
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Jan 09, 2019 10:11am
These changes while positive don’t address the real problem. PIA is overstaffed at all levels but really owns a small fleet that is shrinking every year . The plan to grow the fleet profitably or shrink the employee base relative to its fleet size . Growing the fleet profitably is very difficult unless they are able to compete with the gulf air lines . The gulf airlines have an unfair advantage when it comes to working capital, fuel costs and general infrastructure .The best option would be to sell partial stake to a stronger airline but retain the PIA brand .
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Jan 09, 2019 10:16am
@citizen, saving employee costs won’t turn it into a profitable business . Many structural steps have to be taken . The airline should default on its loans. The Creditirs should a haircut . Then a three to 5 year reorganization plan should take place to make it break even if not profitable .
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Jan 09, 2019 10:25am
in other countries there is no dpecisl treatment for airline staff. they carry their own luggage. even government employees mps carry their own luggage. for a poor country to offer special treatment to government highups is another form of corruption.
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Jan 09, 2019 10:27am
@Shujaat Khan, "The president and chief executive officer of the national flag-carrier will also not be able to enjoy protocol and extraordinary arrangements.
The PIA also launched an austerity campaign and withdrew staff reserved for facilitating the cabin crew members and redeployed them on their normal duties at airports across Pakistan."
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Jan 09, 2019 10:27am
Learn effective work practices from world's first class airlines like Qantas and Air New Zealand.
Abolish all unnecessary practices and insane VIP culture practices and improve customer service. Customer should be the priority not providing loaders to carry baggage of pilots and hostesses. It is insane.
Also put age limit of 30 years for all air hostesses. Older than 30 years staff should be kept for ground duties. Focus on customer service delivery, hygiene and efficient transparent service in the planes and on the ground.
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Jan 09, 2019 10:28am
All this despite being a poor country, just imagine what would happen if we were a rich country.
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Jan 09, 2019 10:33am
Good move, really appreciate.
I wish we adopt same culture in all walks of our lives.
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Jan 09, 2019 10:33am
Besides these extremely needed reforms for a very long time, what more is an absolute necessity is that there must be brought a top notch expert in commerce and aviation industry to the helms of this this ailing, dying behemoth of a failure.
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Jan 09, 2019 10:41am
Keep it up take some tough decisions like this for the revival of PIA to make it profitable and topline airlines once again..
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Jan 09, 2019 10:42am
This is what happens when you PM is not into protocol. Excellent job!
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Jan 09, 2019 10:45am
PIA need a complete restucturing of it’s business and image if it is to survive in the 21st century airline business. It is not a cheap air line like Norwegian nor is it a service minded airline like Qatar, Etihaad and Singapore Airlines.
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Jan 09, 2019 10:47am
To improve an organization, first step is to assign professionals. Why is an AirMarshal assigned at this commercial experience related job. Few loaders reassignment is just gimmicks.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:05am
Brilliant
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Jan 09, 2019 11:09am
Good move and let's treat all citizens equally - no more VIP culture and protocols for anybody, no matter who they are.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:09am
My latest PIA experience was the worst in my whole life and I will never fly with PIA again.
This whole company must be dumped.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:11am
@M Mirza, why they have not served this airline?
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Jan 09, 2019 11:25am
Thank you PTI, other party, PPP and PML-N did not had guts to make this kind of reform, they were looking out for their own personal interests, Nawaz Sharif and Zardari ruined PIA.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:26am
good move, keep it up.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:31am
@M Mirza, Should stop giving confirmed 50% rebated tickets to Armed Forces employees and their families too.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:34am
No more VIP culture and protocols for anybody - this is one of many changes that are in the pipeline. All citizens are equal and are to be treated the same way - no special favours.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:35am
Should stop giving protocol and special treatment to Prime Ministers, MNAs, MPAs, Chief Ministers, Governors, Military Chiefs and other assorted VIPs too.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:36am
Well done Air Marshal Arshad Malik!
Struggled to find words to express my feelings of happiness on this great development. Last year, my disabled mum had to wait for at least 20/25 minutes at ISB for a porter and wheel chair to take her to passport control. Never knew that this was the reason. PIA is verge of bankruptcy and they were paying additional allowances to porters for this service! This development would serve as a strong precedent for other departments where lower level staff are made to serve as personal servants to officials.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:39am
Due to its appalling service I had not travelled via PIA for years. Now I am seriously thinking about reverting to the national carrier. Thank you Imran Khan.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:44am
Sell or close PIA. With the proceeds invest in one of the efficient airlines of the world like Singapore or Emirates. Better still let Singapore Airlines take over and run PIA.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:52am
Nothing's going to fix PIA until they take the painful decision of firing the tens of thousands of politically appointed staff who are nothing but dead weight.
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Jan 09, 2019 11:55am
Removing loaders and VIP Culture is not enough.
This Airline needs to fire all of its employees and hire anew. Why? Because, the culture and corruption is in the Brains. These Brains must be removed.
Make new rules so new crew cannot steal and do corruption.
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Jan 09, 2019 12:04pm
Arrest ex . Shujaat Chodhry
He wil tel the truth
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Jan 09, 2019 12:05pm
Well done Sir. We are expecting great changes in our national carrier
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Jan 09, 2019 12:06pm
Finally.
Excellent step.
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Jan 09, 2019 12:11pm
All cosmetic moves. Only privatisation can turn around PIA
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Jan 09, 2019 01:02pm
We need specially trained staff for the airport handling and management. Change in behaviour of staff is required.
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Jan 09, 2019 01:57pm
They are attempting to save their jobs.
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Jan 09, 2019 01:58pm
Wages come from companies that make a profit.
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Jan 09, 2019 02:11pm
Step by step, man can climb the mountain top.
The VIP culture is a a hindrence to the progress of the entrie nation. The entitlement mentality needs to be abolished and no special protocols are necessary for officials who already enjoy many priviledges.
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Jan 09, 2019 02:32pm
@Pakistan deserves better., How to be rich with this kind of incompetent V VIPs ruling class that only give importance to thugs like them and themselves earlier. now you may see changes with Imran
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Jan 09, 2019 02:41pm
Thanks to new chairman
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Jan 09, 2019 02:52pm
Good ..... a correct step in the right direction.
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Jan 09, 2019 03:16pm
abolishing vip culture is the need of the hour.
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Jan 09, 2019 03:23pm
Now their jobs are at risk they are enacting reforms.
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Jan 09, 2019 03:44pm
But politicians are allowed to enjoy the perks.
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Jan 09, 2019 04:49pm
good steps but not enough. more efforts/changes are required to make the airline profitable.
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Jan 09, 2019 04:55pm
@Akram, yes agreed. Clean up required on merit, then privatization is the only way forward
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Jan 09, 2019 05:10pm
Perils of PIA start with the highly non-commercial practice enforced by the Government in keeping a large number of seats reserved till the last 20 minutes for possible Government passengers travelling on duty. That often makes those seats going empty, while paid passengers and PIA suffered.
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Jan 09, 2019 05:50pm
This is good news. Every time I tried to book a seat in business class, they were shown as allocated already. When in the flight, I realised most of them were families of the cabin crew!!. This has been going on for 30-40 years.
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Jan 09, 2019 06:12pm
Time to curb colonial era VIP culture. This facilities should be terminated for ministers, judges, generals and governors. Only PM and president should have this facility.
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Jan 09, 2019 07:17pm
When are they going to remove free tickets for family members? This is also causing huge burden on PIA.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:07pm
PIA don't you cancell flights, don't you delay flights. You have 15 thousands extra employees for only 37 plans still you delay flights & cancell flights for paid passengers to accommodate free passengers of relatives of your 17 thousand fack degrees employees.PIA you have lost paid passengers just to give them to abbassi airline, your crime is a terrorist act.
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Jan 09, 2019 08:11pm
Awesome work. Keep it up sir. Inshallah be honest and PIA will progress.
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Jan 09, 2019 09:42pm
The Supreme Court has identified the safety risk in relation to crew operating without qualification and licensing. The core is to identify the sustainability risk which plaque PIA from internal factors - performance on routes, in regards to people fit for jobs and marketing to evolve the new PIA.
VIP protocol is eating away this society — one key component addressed. The PIA eco system needs actions on hurdles in changing mindset of consumer who have set on fence given both the VIP culture and customer treatment - have a whistle blowing system you may get faster to the core cause of the issues eating away both the profitability and sustainable operations.
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Jan 10, 2019 04:32am
My younger brother, Air Vice Marshal(Retd) Syed Moinur Rab who was the Dy Mganaging Director and passed away just last week had tried to introduce the same policy during Benazir Bhutto regime but were fired by the PM alongwith the then MD, Air Marshal Daudpota. another dedicated son of the soil.Their souls must be watching the current PIA events with some gratification from up above.
May their souls rest in Peace!
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Jan 10, 2019 04:39am
Good job!! This culture should have stopped long time ago. PIA is on the right direction.
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Jan 10, 2019 07:30am
@Shujaat Khan,
Mr. Shujaat Khan,
You put a pinching question.
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Jan 10, 2019 07:32am
@Abbas kd,
Mr. Abbas kd,
In european countries the staff members of airlines don't get vip-treatment.
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Jan 10, 2019 07:35am
It is so simple and not a rocket science to keep the expenses low and service to the high grounds. Check out how many people are employed per plain in good bad and worse airlines, just try to follow the middle ones and there is no reason it should stay in losses. Give power to the departments, set such an apparatus so that everybody should perform their duties honestly. Do good with goodness everywhere, there is no way it should not be successful.
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Jan 10, 2019 07:36am
@Shazad,
Mr. Shahzad,
All the military and civil officials are in the same category - vip-treatment.
By the way have you spoken with your friend about the vip-treatment as you in your comment mentioned?
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Jan 10, 2019 11:36am
No VIP culture ----what crap ! Only yesterday we had a severe accident , my car was damaged from front and back both, thanks to this VIP culture . Rangers and Naval Police suddenly jumped in the middle of the road to stop the traffic's swift flow towards the Airport . Four cars were damaged because Roman Lords do not like one minute's delay and four car owners cried for two hours on this unforeseen loss. My bill came up to 100 thousand plus and I don't know about the man who had hit my car from the front . He was in tears as he could not afford the repairing bill , his car was not insured. The shameless Naval Police advised us to feel happy as we were alive and we should go home and say nafals. VIP culture -------it is very much there every one . Will Commanding Officer Karsaz take any action in this regard ? Of course not ---as all of them are a part of this hateful culture. AND --I'm sure my letter /opinion will not be printed on some pretext..
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Jan 10, 2019 05:13pm
Prudent step indeed.... however, keeping in view the austerity campaign the national flag carrier should also pay some heed to the 50% ticket concession given to the officers and the family members of country's armed forces.. This is also an unnecessary burden on a sinking ship..
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Jan 10, 2019 05:23pm
The PIA management needs to take steps to increase their efforts to eliminate mismanagement, decrease the number of crew assigned to each aircraft, do a thorough job in interviewing pilots and crew and confirming their credentials, above all, eliminate wastage and for once in years, show profit. VIO protocol won’t save much, that’s part of instilling a culture where no one is considered special, has nothing to do with managing the airline.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:41pm
They way forward. Keep up good work.
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Jan 10, 2019 05:41pm
How about abolishing free tickets to PIA family members; instead selling those ticket to general public on discount.
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Jan 10, 2019 08:34pm
Great move indeed! Would the special medical treatment of the flight crew also be abolished as well as the pick-up and drop services?
In order for PIA to be financially stable all these special treatments be abolished; this is how western carriers operate.
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Jan 11, 2019 12:08am
good first step, anywhere in the world cabinet secretaries ( minister's level) do not get any security or privileges. they travel like any ordinary citizens.
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Jan 11, 2019 01:49am
@KK, corrupt to the core, thief will be upset because he will no longer be able to get his family members in well paid jobs.
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Jan 11, 2019 02:08am
Never anywhere else in the world airline staff is provided loaders to carry their luggage. Moreover, PIA offer excess luggage exemption offered to VIPs and others by Manager Airport Service, this need to stop too. These are some of the reason why PIA is suffering.
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Jan 11, 2019 02:42am
Good start to cut waste. Next should be gradual reduction of over manning. And then go to eliminate any free travel. If any government employee,civil or armed services,should be charged to the relevant ministry/department. Freebees should end.
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Jan 11, 2019 02:48am
PIA has twice the number of people per plane as the most efficient airline. If you cut the staff by 10% per year every year for the next four years (if the PIA stays alive that long, i.e.) and increas the number of planes then it will become profitable.
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Jan 11, 2019 05:39am
He is NOT reducing the staff which is MUST to reduce the loses, he is just shuffling them around. I do not understand in 2nd paragraph it says loaders are still sitting in a separate room to give this service to pilot's, air hostess and cabin crew why they can't carry their own luggage like every airline in the World, how this gimmick will work to reduce the loses if not cutting the unnecessary staff?
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Jan 11, 2019 10:20pm
@saksci, I agree but the probelm is that if the abolish free passes they will have to increase the salaries, the salaries of PIA staff is very low and pension is barely enough.
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Jan 12, 2019 12:34am
Now government and PIA needs to eliminate “Protocol officers” who escort VIP Types around all security checkpoints at airports!
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