Recommencement of EU operations: PIA moves foreign ministry to activate diplomatic channel with Turkey

KARACHI: Following no response from the Ministry of Aviation, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has finally approached the foreign ministry to activate diplomatic channel with Turkey to recommence EU operations by August 13, 2020 through code sharing agreement with Turkish (Pegasus Airlines).

According to sources, the national flag carrier, which used to fly Birmingham (UK,) London (UK), Milan (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), Copenhagen Denmark) and Oslo (Norway), has now been prevented by EASA on June 30, 2020 from flying in Europe for six months after fake pilots licenses scandal. Following the aforesaid temporary ban on PIA imposed by EASA, the airline has approached the Turkish Airlines for code sharing agreement but Turkish, a star alliance airline, appeared reluctant to sign any deal with PIA, due to its reputation, sources said.

Consequently, the concerned department of PIA has reached one of the suitable code sharing agreements with another Turkish low cost airline 'Pegasus Airlines'.

Commenting on the code sharing agreement with Pegasus Airlines, sources said that Pegasus Airlines under the said code sharing agreement would not only facilitate PIA passengers for aforesaid five EU destinations - Birmingham (UK,) London (UK), Milan (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), Copenhagen Denmark) and Oslo (Norway) but would also offer 25 plus other EU destinations including Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Athens, etc.

They said that PIA under this agreement would book full ticket to the desired destination of the passengers and would take them to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul from where they would travel in Pegasus Airlines to their final destinations.

To a question, they said that this was the most suitable code sharing agreement as the fares to be charged by Pegasus Airlines would be same as compared to the fares offered by PIA.

Sources said that presently there were slot hiccups at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul and for the purpose; the airline has asked the minister aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan to look into the matter and resolve the issue, facilitating the national flag carrier to finalize all arrangements.

However, the ministry of aviation has not given any response that compelled the PIA to approach foreign ministry to activate diplomatic channel with Turkey to recommence EU operations by August 13, 2020 through code sharing agreement with Turkish (Pegasus Airlines), sources said and added that Pegasus Airlines under the agreement would not only offer meals to the PIA passengers but also extended its baggage limit from 20 kilograms to 30 kilograms.

When contacted, PIA spokesman confirmed that the airline had reached code sharing agreement with Pegasus Airlines and added that PIA, which had planned to execute this code sharing agreement by August 13, 2020, was presently facing slot issues at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Istanbul.

He hoped that the issue would be resolved in coming days through diplomatic channel.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020