50 Years of Excellence

Pakistan International, commonly known as PIA, has been a pioneering airline ever since it started its soft operations on 7th June 1954 between Karachi and Dacca, as a 'department' under the Ministry of Defence.
Thus began a vital service, connecting people and linking places. This was the culmination of a pre-partition dream initiated by the Quaid-e-Azam to equip the new nation with a national airline. Orient Airways Ltd was registered in 1946, the first all-Muslim public company in India; its Karachi-Delhi-Calcutta-Dacca flight took about 13 hours, but accomplished the vital task of linking the two wings of Pakistan, without a change of aircraft.
In 1955, Pakistan International Airlines was formed into a Corporation and it absorbed Orient Airways operations, assets and staff. The same year PIA started a service to London via Cairo and by 1957 the revenue on international routes exceeded that of domestic routes and became a source of foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan.
By the end of the decade, PIA was already competitive with the world's airlines on the international routes. With the courage to think big and the ability to plan and execute strategic concepts, the airline never looked back. Air India at that time was well advanced in its jet procurement programme, and was expecting delivery of its first jet in 1960. PIA did not want to lose the competitive edge that it enjoyed; the management took the challenge and PIA became the first airline from the East to introduce jet service. With dedicated flight and cabin crews, PIA proved to all the doubting Thomases that its operations could equal that of the airlines of the west. PIA was living up to its slogan of "Great People to fly with".
Another first to PIA's credit is being the first airline from a non-communist country to operate to the Peoples Republic of China. With the assistance of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), PIA also pioneered the flight over the Karakorams to Peking. PIA also assisted in training the CAAC flight crews on the Trident aircraft, and helped them to induct it into their operations. Later, when CAAC purchased the Boeing 707s, PIA trained their maintenance and their flight crews.
In 1962, PIA attempted to set a new record and succeeded. On the London-Karachi sector, finding the upper winds forecast favourable, PIA set out to break the record for the fastest flight between London and Karachi. With representatives of FAI (Federation Aeronautique International) on board to monitor the official timings, PIA completed the flight in 6 hours, 43 minutes and 51 seconds, the fastest speed, a record which to this day remains unbroken.
PIA was also the first airline to have traffic rights to and through Moscow. The most colourful, if not the most significant, happening for PIA was the introduction of a new airhostess uniform designed by none other than the renowned French designer, Pierre Cardin.
This, more than any other single factor, imprinted PIA's name on the international market. It took the aviation world by storm. It was an instant hit, both at home and abroad.
A collective pride and joyous buoyancy seemed to pervade the PIA family in the mid- sixties. Riding high on the crest of success, PIA became a household name in Pakistan.
The war between India and Pakistan during 1965 served as a catalyst for PIA, as the national airline had an additional role to perform. It played a major role in logistical support. PIA's Boeings, Super Constellations, and Viscounts operated special flights on behalf of the Armed Forces.
PIA's modern fleet was a good advertisement for both Pakistan and the airline and was one of the major reasons for requests for assistance from other airlines. One of the earliest of these was from Saudi Arabia in the early 1960s. When Japan was expanding its airlines in the beginning, they needed experienced flying crew and PIA helped them to overcome the shortage of experienced aircrew. PIA also came forward to assist Singapore Airlines mostly with aircrews.
PIA in the course of time became a specialist in providing staff aid to many airlines. Some of those that got PIA staff were Kuwait, North Yemen, Sudan, East Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Dubai. The most successful staff aid projects were with Jordan, Libya and Malta. PIA staff helped Alia to start operating Boeing-707 aircraft in 1971. Libya needed staff to expand their airline and train their senior staff and found PIA a good source of technical staff who would work in close liaison with their Libyan employees.
During the period between 1973-78, PIA's route network grew by 66% and its capacity and traffic increased at the rate of 26% per annum. These years, termed as golden years, coincide with the Middle East boom.
In a study conducted by the Planning Commission of the Government of Pakistan, in mid 1970, comparing the Public Sector corporations of India and Pakistan, PIA was the only corporation which compared better than its counterpart both in quality and qualitative terms.
Apart from operational activities, PIA has played a significant role in promotion of our sports, art and culture both inside and outside Pakistan. PIA's massive Hajj and Umrah operations are acknowledged both by the private sector and the government departments.
Constant change and improvement, and a continuing commitment to traditional Pakistani hospitality and service, are a major part of PIA's core philosophy. The three-year strategic restructuring programme, drawn by Chairman Ahmad Saeed to bring the airline back to profitability, is well on schedule.