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PIA suspends BOM service from May 15

 
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747-237
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PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2017 12:48 pm    Post subject: PIA suspends BOM service from May 15 Reply with quote

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistan-international-airlines-to-suspend-flights-to-mumbai-from-may-15/1/946227.html

Pakistan International Airlines to suspend flights to Mumbai from May 15

May 5, 2017

Pakistan International Airlines will suspend flight between Mumbai and Karachi from May 15.

According to sources, the Airlines is planning to suspend the services because of deteriorating India-Pakistan relations. Not many people are sanctioned visas leading to no passenger traffic.

The flight between Mumbai and Karachi is a direct flight that flies thrice in a week.

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Caliguy
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PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2017 7:09 pm    Post subject: Re: PIA suspends BOM service from May 15 Reply with quote

747-237 wrote:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistan-international-airlines-to-suspend-flights-to-mumbai-from-may-15/1/946227.html

Pakistan International Airlines to suspend flights to Mumbai from May 15

May 5, 2017

Pakistan International Airlines will suspend flight between Mumbai and Karachi from May 15.

According to sources, the Airlines is planning to suspend the services because of deteriorating India-Pakistan relations. Not many people are sanctioned visas leading to no passenger traffic.

The flight between Mumbai and Karachi is a direct flight that flies thrice in a week.


Really sad. It also shows you that the few remaining connections between Sindhi hindus living in BOM and their family / businesses in Karachi have basically faded away. Even up to the early eighties it was still common for Sindhis to routinely travel from BOM and KHI. My family visited Sindh in 1984 and our KHI-BOM flight was packed (PIA A300 I think) and not just with ME connecting labor traffic. I will add that it also shows the high immigration of Sindhis from BOM to outside India.
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PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 7:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/pia-suspends-mumbai-karachi-flights-as-aircraft-lease-runs-out/article18395373.ece

PIA suspends Mumbai-Karachi flights as aircraft lease runs out

May 06, 2017

Pakistan-bound passengers from the city and staff at the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) office here are a worried lot after the airline announced the suspension of its weekly Mumbai-Karachi flight due to aircraft lease issues. The last PIA flight on this sector is expected to be on May 8.

The PIA has four aircraft on lease, the airline’s Mumbai station manager Ahmed Barakzai told The Hindu on Friday. “The lease is ending, including for the plane that flies to Mumbai. There will be no flights for at least another three months,” Mr. Barakzai said. He confirmed that Pakistan’s national carrier did not operate a flight from Mumbai to Karachi on Thursday, adding Indian authorities had been informed of the suspension of the service on May 4.

Staff at the PIA office at Mittal Court in Churchgate appeared worried about their jobs, given the flight was being suspended. “There are many passengers who fly every month. We hope this is just temporary and the flight resumes soon,” an Indian staff member said.

Mr. Barakzai clarified that the prevailing tension between India and Pakistan had nothing to do with the suspension of flights between Mumbai and Karachi. “Flights to Delhi will operate as usual,” he said.

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PostPosted: Mon May 08, 2017 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PIA’s other service adjustment for India market as follow:
Karachi – Delhi eff 15MAY17 1 weekly service cancelled
Lahore – Delhi eff 13MAY17 Reduce from 2 to 1 weekly, service cancelled from 07JUN17


Source: Airlineroute.net
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Since no one will be flying India-Pak routes in the immediate future, may be some other airline belonging to another country can fly these routes and make some money ? (ME3, SE Asian or a Euro carrier)
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

iah87 wrote:
Since no one will be flying India-Pak routes in the immediate future, may be some other airline belonging to another country can fly these routes and make some money ? (ME3, SE Asian or a Euro carrier)


I seem to recall UL wanting to fly CMB-BOM-KHI. Maybe they will now. But I agree - better to let Air Asia, UL etc fly the route to keep the connection. Sad that no Indian carrier feels safe flying to Pak (I agree with their feeling)
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PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/55876-pakistan-international-airlines-to-cancel-mumbai-flights

Pakistan International Airlines to cancel Mumbai flights?

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Karachi Int'l) is considering cancelling its Karachi Int'l – Mumbai Int'l flights in the near future. In an email to ch-aviation, PIA General Manager of Public Affairs Danyal Gillani said that this was due to commercial reasons and that discontinuation was "most likely", especially considering recent flight loads. Gillani confirmed that Lahore Int'l – Delhi Int'l flights would however continue for the time being.

Currently, PIA flies 2x weekly Karachi – Mumbai (weekly capacity 341 seats), 1x weekly Karachi – Delhi (158 seats), and 2x weekly Lahore – Delhi (316 seats).

Indian media has already reported that the flight is definitely cancelled, quoting official but anonymous sources. According to FlightRadar24 ADS-B data, it ran as scheduled on May 8. The next flight is scheduled for May 11.

Country manager for PIA, Muammed Ahmed Barkazai, apparently told the Mumbai Mirror that four B737-800s on wet-lease from Pegasus Airlines (PC, Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen) were returned, leading to a shortage of aircraft. However, FlightRadar24 data shows that all four aircraft (TC-ACP, TC-ADP, TC-ANP and TC-CPA) are still operating for PIA on a daily basis.


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PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2017 4:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air Lanka used to fly there via BOM I think 737 -200 was used as Sri Lankan they did so as well with A320 and A330.
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PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2017 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Caliguy wrote:


I seem to recall UL wanting to fly CMB-BOM-KHI. Maybe they will now. But I agree - better to let Air Asia, UL etc fly the route to keep the connection. Sad that no Indian carrier feels safe flying to Pak (I agree with their feeling)


It is more than just safety issues. Thanks to visa restrictions on both sides, the traffic must be down to a trickle.
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PostPosted: Wed May 17, 2017 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just think of the business and tourism opportunities if the two big powers in South Asia reached a real detente. In a more sane world, you could have 50 daily India-Pak flights.
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PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2017 11:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to airlineroute no flights to India after 7th June, first time no links between the two in peacetime, I know its not all smooth but there is no threat that led to this.
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PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2017 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

indopaki wrote:
According to airlineroute no flights to India after 7th June, first time no direct air links between the two in peacetime, I know its not all smooth but there is no threat that led to this.
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PostPosted: Sat May 20, 2017 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to airlineroute no flights to India after 7th June, first time no direct air links between the two in peacetime, I know its not all smooth but there is no threat that led to this.
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PIA will not quit India ateast for now.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 7:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31821&articlexml=Mumbai-to-get-back-its-wings-to-Karachi-02102017009001

Mumbai to get back its wings to Karachi

Oct 02 2017

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which grounded its Mumbai Karachi flights on May 11due to short age of aircraft, will re-introduce the ser vice by the end of this year.
Confirming this, Muhammad Ahmed Barkazai, the country manager of PIA, told Mirror, “We are hoping to re-start flights from Karachi to Mumbai and back by the year-end.“

A presentation in this regard was made before Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood, who visited the PIA office in New Delhi on Friday. He was accompanied by Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah.

Barkazai and other officials of the airlines briefed the High Commissioner on the operational and organisational matters of PIA. Mahmood, in turn, assured the PIA staff of support and cooperation in required areas. A senior PIA official said that Mahmood was very optimistic about restoration of the Mumbai-Karachi flight.

The service had to be discontinued as some aircraft, which were taken on wet lease by the PIA, had to be returned as their leases were expiring. Besides, a large number of aircraft were also wanted for Haj tours.

“But now, we are in a comfortable position and are looking at ways to restart the flight from Mumbai to Karachi and add another flight on the Delhi-Lahore route,“ said the official.

PIA operated two direct flights from Mumbai to Karachi. While the flying time was just an hour, the fare was Rs 28,000. When the service was stopped in May, thus depriving Mumbaikars of a direct aerial connectivity to Pakistan, a lot of passengers were refunded or asked to travel via Dubai.

The price of the ticket is expected to be the same when the flight is brought back.

At present, PIA operates one flight from Delhi to Lahore on Wednesday. From November 1, one more flight will be added on Wednesday.The PIA wants to start another flight on the route every Monday.

Hailing the news, Jatin Desai of the Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy said, “It is a good development that the flight service between Mumbai and Karachi is resuming. At the same time, the visa process should be made easier so that the flights are full.“

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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 12:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why doesn't AI operate a bi-weekly between DEL-LHE or BOM-KHI, if nothing but to reciprocate?

A couple of more loss making flights should not make a difference;
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Goat wrote:
Why doesn't AI operate a bi-weekly between DEL-LHE or BOM-KHI, if nothing but to reciprocate?
A couple of more loss making flights should not make a difference;
Sir, there have been repeated threats to Indian aircraft in Pakistan, and IC suspended flights, also due to the ongoing political tensions between the two countries. The current political climate does not see much patronage, and the high ticket prices work both ways. AI has perhaps had its best years after the JRD era under Team Nandan and Team Lohani, and the debt hole apart, they are in relatively better shape than they ever were. I do not see AI actively pursuing any loss-making route under Team Bansal, either.
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sumantra wrote:
Sir, there have been repeated threats to Indian aircraft in Pakistan, and IC suspended flights, also due to the ongoing political tensions between the two countries. The current political climate does not see much patronage, and the high ticket prices work both ways. AI has perhaps had its best years after the JRD era under Team Nandan and Team Lohani, and the debt hole apart, they are in relatively better shape than they ever were. I do not see AI actively pursuing any loss-making route under Team Bansal, either.
Cheers, Sumantra.


The political tensions aren't preventing PIA from operating flights. And most Pakistanis will argue that there is a threat to Pakistani aircraft in India as well.

Unless of course, PIA is actually making money on their flights to India and AI is not able to do likewise. Which, knowing AI, will not be the least bit surprising.
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The_Goat wrote:
The political tensions aren't preventing PIA from operating flights. And most Pakistanis will argue that there is a threat to Pakistani aircraft in India as well.
Sir, while you may be correct, there have been more instances of Indian aircraft being affected by terrorists in Pakistan, than otherwise (the IC F-27, the IC B732, the IC A300B4: IC 814), directly or indirectly related to Pakistan-based insurgency. In addition to this, there have been numerous threats which I have come to know about both through the mainstream media, as well as contacts within AI. I have some good reasons to believe that it may not be a good idea for AI to start services in this current political climate.
The_Goat wrote:
Unless of course, PIA is actually making money on their flights to India and AI is not able to do likewise. Which, knowing AI, will not be the least bit surprising.
PIA and AI aren't exactly trailblazers in representing well-run airlines. However AI, in spite of decades of mismanagement, has had its best run ever, and it is a bit hard to imagine that route planners at AI of late do not know their onions. The route sees waxing and waning of demand: the PIA fares are appropriately high, with the fickle demand, owing to the political tensions. PIA still has its public gaffes, the latest being a missing A310 from the books. In spite of the deep debt AI is ailing from, the progress it has made under Team Nandan and Team Lohani is nothing but spectacular.
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sumantra wrote:
The_Goat wrote:
The political tensions aren't preventing PIA from operating flights. And most Pakistanis will argue that there is a threat to Pakistani aircraft in India as well.
Sir, while you may be correct, there have been more instances of Indian aircraft being affected by terrorists in Pakistan, than otherwise (the IC F-27, the IC B732, the IC A300B4: IC 814), directly or indirectly related to Pakistan-based insurgency. In addition to this, there have been numerous threats which I have come to know about both through the mainstream media, as well as contacts within AI. I have some good reasons to believe that it may not be a good idea for AI to start services in this current political climate.
The_Goat wrote:
Unless of course, PIA is actually making money on their flights to India and AI is not able to do likewise. Which, knowing AI, will not be the least bit surprising.
PIA and AI aren't exactly trailblazers in representing well-run airlines. However AI, in spite of decades of mismanagement, has had its best run ever, and it is a bit hard to imagine that route planners at AI of late do not know their onions. The route sees waxing and waning of demand: the PIA fares are appropriately high, with the fickle demand, owing to the political tensions. PIA still has its public gaffes, the latest being a missing A310 from the books. In spite of the deep debt AI is ailing from, the progress it has made under Team Nandan and Team Lohani is nothing but spectacular.
Cheers, Sumantra.


Look from my perspective the fact is no one is trying to blow up a PIA plane in India while the same cannot be said of an Indian plane in PAk. While I totally think it is important to maintain some air link, let PIA run it. Solves the issue (and hey if they make money, good for them). 2X BOM-KHI and 2X DEL-LHE is really all that is needed.
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iah87
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

May be SriLankan can fly from CMB to Pakistan via BOM or DEL. They already fly directly to Pakistan now.
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/pia-to-operate-another-flight-to-india-from-this-month/articleshow/60976640.cms

PIA to operate another flight to India from this month

Oct 06, 2017

Pakistan International Airlines has decided to operate another flight to India from this month after an increase in number of passengers travelling between the two countries, officials said today.

Earlier, the PIA was operating only one flight a week from Lahore.

"We have decided to operate another flight from Lahore to New Delhi from this month as passenger volume has increased a little," PIA spokesman Mashood Tajwar told PTI.

"The second weekly flight (Saturday) for India has been restored after a meeting of the PIA officials. We will operate ATR plane for the second flight as well," Tajwar said.

To a question about any chances to restore Karachi-Mumbai flight operation, he said: "At the moment no deliberations have been made on restoration of this flight operation. Since most passengers are opting for train and road routes for India, only two ATR flights a week from Lahore are economically viable".

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