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| June 24, 2005 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1426 |
PIA asked to get high degree of professionalism
ISLAMABAD, Jun 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday asked national flag carrier PIA to achieve a high degree of professionalism and be prepared to meet competition. He was addressing a gathering here at the Chaklala air base to preview new Boeing 777-LR, which is on a 25-nation tour and would be inducted in the PIA by end of this year.
The prime minister said earlier the airline’s fleet was not reflective of the new needs and demands of modern times and it was important that PIA moved along with industry.
He said with induction of the new aircraft, PIA would be able to fly to newer destinations and attract new business.
He urged PIA to be more competitive and try to gain its share of tourist traffic. He said the aircraft being added to the airline’s fleet would allow it to fly non-stop to the United States.
The PM said without stops, the passengers would save precious time and be less tired when they would get off at their destinations.
He appreciated new reservation, marketing and sales system of PIA and said it had to gear up and seek to build up business. He said the airline should focus on building its brand and move from being an ethnic airline to an international one.
He hoped that the airline would also replace its ageing Fokker F-27 aircraft with newer ones soon. He said opting for Boeing 777 was a tough decision for PIA but it was taken in a transparent manner.
The Prime Minister later inspected the aircraft.
BOING 777 IN KARACHI: The Boeing Company will have certification of its 777-200LR, the latest version of Boeing 777 aircraft series, by the end of December, 2005 and PIA will get delivery in January 2006 for its induction into its fleet.
This was stated by Regional Director Boeing Company Bradley D. Till while briefing newsmen on board the aircraft at Karachi airport after its arrival from Islamabad here Thursday.
The aircraft with 321 seating capacity - 21 seats more than Boeing 777-200ER, will be delivered to PIA by the year 2008.
It is 20 percent lighter when empty and has 22 percent lower fuel consumption.
The Boeing 777-200LR world liner is capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world with non-stop service, Bradley said adding that it extends the range of the market-leading 777 family by more than 1600 nautical miles (2960 Km).
He said this extended-range capability will allow airlines to service such non-stop routes like Houston to Karachi at full 301 passenger capacity and carrying revenue cargo. With a range of 9420 nautical miles (17,446 m), it will carry more passengers and more revenue cargo farther than any other jetliner.
The new airplane was unveiled in February at a celebration attended by more than 5000 employees, airline representatives, suppliers and government and community leaders.
Bradely told newsmen that like the other 777 models, the 777-200LR has the Boeing Signature interior. He said according to a recent worldwide survey conducted by numerous airlines and including nearly 6000 passengers, the 777 cabin is preferred by three out of four passengers over the competition.
When asked about Boeing performance at Paris Airshow in competition to the Airbus, Bradley said Boeing prefers to be more customer friendly and, therefore, it had done quite well at the show. “We try to develop best product”, he commented.
To another question, he said the aircraft was going to countries which had placed order for it.
He said that so far Boeing had 693 firm orders of 777 family aircrafts while 517 were in service.
He said each aircraft costs around $180-230 million, depending on the model and the facilities provided.
He said this aeroplane has five customers worldwide including Pakistan.
He said the company had 7 month test flight programme with two test aeroplanes.
The journalists and officials of PIA were taken to a visit to the aircraft and explained its salient features by Boeing officials.
—APP
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