Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight delays are causing serious inconvenience and discomfort to passengers, besides inflicting huge financial losses, it is learnt. According to PIA official documents the national flag carrier is operating with 82 percent on-time departures against 78 percent of Gulf, 76 percent of Air India, 81 percent of Saudi Arabia, 84 percent of Emirates and 87 percent of Qatar. However officials revealed that 3-4 flights are delayed almost daily due to one reason or another.
PIA spokesperson Danyal Gilani told Business Recorder that during the last 24 hours, 46 flights were operated on international routes and 59 on domestic routes. About 96 percent of international while 98.5 percent of domestic flights departed on time. He admitted that four domestic flights were cancelled due to few passengers. The passengers were informed well in time and adjusted in other flights. Further eight flights were delayed due to repair work at Islamabad airport, he maintained.
Replying to a question, the spokesperson said that flight operations remained 82 percent on time since the incumbent government took over while Hajj operation remained at 96 percent. PIA spokesperson said "currently 35 aircrafts are in operation while five more would be added by the end of current calendar year. The government is procuring five more aircrafts on lease, including two from Aercap and three from Air Asia. By the end of next calendar, 10 more aircrafts would be added in the fleet, brining the number to 50."
The two airplanes due to arrive next week include Airbus A320 and Boeing 777-200ER, are being obtained on lease. With the induction of these aircraft the fleet strength of PIA will increase to 37, he added. PIA, for the first time in history, has inducted 14 airplanes in one year's time as the airline was facing severe capacity constraints. With the induction of these planes PIA has not only been able to maintain its flight schedule and improve flight punctuality but also managed to increase frequency of its flights on profitable routes.
The A320 aircraft will be operated on domestic and international short routes while Boeing 777-200ER will be operated on long routes, he added. The government has sought expression of interest to procure aircrafts on lease and Kenya has shown interest, with net present value of Rs 18.76 billion, however the offer is still under consideration and nothing is being finalised in this regard. Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Aviation maintained that induction of aircrafts would contribute Rs 2.852 billion to the profit on direct operating cost (DOC) in the first year followed by Rs 3.53 billion in the second year, and Rs 3.67 billion in the third year. The contribution to direct operating cost would increase to Rs 5.019 billion in the fifth year and Rs 5.991 billion in the sixth year resulting in higher revenue against low operating cost ( Rs 32 billion revenue against Rs 26.2 billion direct operating cost).
A parliamentary panel recently raised the issue while questioning the procurement of aircrafts; however the management had no answer and stated, "We will brief the committee in next meeting". The committee has also sought the contract details, while saying that there is something suspicious and the matter may be sent to National Accountability Bureau (NAB).