Ill fortune seldom comes alone. Following the warnings given to Pakistan International Airlines by Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, incessant international flight delays have attracted yet another warning from yet another European and only destination in Germany, home to huge Pakistani Diaspora, Frankfurt.
With almost 10-11 aircraft including 3-4 Airbus A310s, used for European destinations, grounded for wants of spares and engines, the management of national flag carrier has been unable to keep its schedule intact. According to sources Frankfurt Airport Authority has issued a notice after keeping the Pakistani national flag carrier under strict observation. The decision was taken after the airline's delays started to hurt airport functions, disturbing other airlines.
Although the turnaround time of PIA aircraft were normal but because the flights arrived at Frankfurt usually late so departed late as well, crossing the limits. Germany hosts around a million Pakistanis just less than UK. There is a sizable number of Pakistanis living in Berlin and Hamburg, PIA mostly attracts Pakistani traffic only from Frankfurt airport. PIA was given the first place award for the biggest volume increase in 2006, by Frankfurt Airport Authority; however in February 2007 German authorities imposed a ban on PIA aircraft flying into Frankfurt and had allowed it to only operate Boeing 777. The ban was subsequently lifted in 2010.
According to well informed sources PIA operates one weekly flight to Frankfurt from Lahore and Islamabad each. In the last two months only one flight arrived on time out of 18 flights it operated to Frankfurt bringing its punctuality ratio to an alarming level of 6%.
According to the observation by Frankfurt airport authority in April total 90% flights reached more than 16 minutes late than the scheduled time at Frankfurt Airport, while, in the month of May all flights were late with 100% delaying ratio. Sources said according to the data total 10 flights arrived at Frankfurt in April out of which 9 flights were late. In May all 8 flights were delayed. This means total 18 flights in two months were operated and out of them 17 were delayed, hence hitting punctuality ratio of 6%. Roughly all 17 flights were on an average delayed by one hour.
"In the light of the stern warning issued to PIA by the airport authorities of United Kingdom earlier that they would deny landing rights in case of any late arrivals/departures during the Olympics period, it is very likely that PIA may be slapped a ban owing to poor flight operations punctuality ratio in the last two months by the Frankfurt authorities too," sources said. Earlier London Airport Co-ordination (LAC) had sent an uncompromising warning to PIA to strictly follow the allotted slots during the Olympics ie July 14 to September 14, failing which the airline would be denied landing rights at Heathrow.
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