This happens to be the peak season, when PIA's Boeing 747 with 430 seats, would be jam-packed on trans-Atlantic and UK routes.
However PIA has replaced three Boeing 747 flights to New York, with a lower capacity Boeing 777.
This means that PIA has either lost its clientele, or else the recent large raise in fares, has resulted in loss of clients. If both these factors are not the reason for this change, of a high capacity aircraft to a low capacity aircraft, then perhaps rumours that all this is being done to show higher utilisation of Boeing 777s are authentic.
Perhaps somebody is desperate to justify not only its purchase, but also future purchases of other aircraft's. How come MAS has managed to procure two Boeing 777s through Kuwait finance at a mere $100 million approximately (inclusive of seats, galleys etc).
Recent series of incidents, involving brand new B777s and other aircraft's, raise doubts about claims of much publicised and trumpeted TURN-AROUND of PIA.
These incidents remind us of similar incidents, that took place prior to Kathmandu crash.
The chairman PIA is supposedly a man with tons of experience in running business ventures ranging from shoes to textile etc. His special assistant is a former retired armed forces officer but a novice in aviation. If his team has failed, he is responsible.
If his team succeeds, he gets the credit. Unfortunately the ground realities are not very encouraging.
The standard of operational maintenance capability is abysmal to say the least. There is not much improvement in reservation system.
Mere jugglery and rapid change of schedules, will not result in increase of revenues, but will definitely hurt PIA's credibility amongst its loyal clients.