Dubai airport issues warning to PIA
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LAHORE: The Dubai International Airport authorities have issued back to back warnings to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) over its failure to adhere to time slot allocated to it and the practice of changing aircraft without intimation.
The airport authorities told the PIA in a letter that it was not observing the time slot. “It has failed to follow the correct procedure to update slots. This is deemed as misuse of the slots. We are adopting zero tolerance to such misuse,” it said.
Saudi Arabia warns PIA of halting flights over unpaid dues
The authorities said the letter should be considered a second warning. “If any further violation of this nature occurs, a fine may be imposed on the PIA.”
A source in the PIA said that delay in its flights often caused problems with regard to observing the time. “This issue is not only related to Dubai but also to several European airports. Jeddah airport is another place where time slot issue crops up every now and then,” he said.
The national-flag carrier was facing the problem primarily because of shortage of planes, he said. “Unless the PIA gets more planes, this issue will not be solved.”
Before issuing the warning on the time slot misuse, the Dubai airport authorities have warned the PIA to inform it before any change of aircraft scheduled to land there.
“On several occasions, the PIA did not bother to inform the airport authorities about the change of aircraft,” the source said. He attributed this to lack of proper communication among different departments of the PIA.
PIA spokesperson Mashhood Tajwar told Dawn that a reply had been sent to the Dubai airport authorities and claimed that both issues had been resolved.
Meanwhile, the PIA has started operating its 30 flights to Dubai after completion of extension of its airport. The PIA had been diverting most of its Dubai-bound flights to Sharjah over the past two months because of extension work of the airport.
Published in Dawn, July 23rd , 2014
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Comments (68) Closed
Jul 23, 2014 07:45am
Even our Muslim brothers are wary of our attitude.
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Jul 23, 2014 09:01am
PIA Union and Employees including Executive Management attitude... who really care.. I will have a job..
Jeddah Cargo team is laid off and they cant even deliver the cargo on time... and once delivered can not locate the boxes...
Bad Management.. that is all .....on top with poor communication ...
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Jul 23, 2014 09:05am
Wat brotherhood dear! U dnt perform u shud b penalized. Efficient shud survive
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Jul 23, 2014 09:06am
Precisely why it should be privatized immediately!
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Jul 23, 2014 09:27am
Cut the staff instead of focusing on getting new planes, it might help.
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Jul 23, 2014 09:29am
Khaqan's Air Blue is profitable, why PIA is at loss?
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Jul 23, 2014 09:36am
It is not Muslim Brothers thing. PIA is airline of kings and kings do operate on their own schedule.
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Jul 23, 2014 10:37am
PIA is notorious & well known for not being on time. Time management has never been a priority for Pakistani government and its agencies. Pathetic performance all around.
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Jul 23, 2014 10:46am
They do that all the time ! Even here in uk heathrow airport! Saying that the passengers are equally bad for time keeping . My pet hate is people using their mobile phones on the plane .
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Jul 23, 2014 10:58am
Democratic setups have staffed PIA with staff who are untrained unqualified and unfit. This is the result of democracy on Pakistan.But sadly if we have military takeover the situation will be the same as these guys will be replaced by retired Faujis. A typical catch 22 situation. May Allah have mercy on Pakistan.
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Jul 23, 2014 11:26am
Introduce Sharia Law to govern PIA airlines. That is the solution found by Muslim asylum seekers living on British tax payers money in Birmingham as another report today in the Dawn mentions....
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Jul 23, 2014 11:38am
One must keep his house in order. PIA should look into these issues to avoid further reminder as well as penalty as claimed by the Authorities concerned.
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Jul 23, 2014 11:43am
Although I love PIA, and fly it whenever possible (Yes I'm a true patriot) but they need to get their act together.
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Jul 23, 2014 11:45am
Thgis airline which was once a jewel can only be cleansed after getting rid of useless and incompetent over-staffing.
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Jul 23, 2014 12:06pm
It pains me to see PIA going from bad to worse in the past few years Which at one point was considered in top 10 best airlines in the world .
It was always a privilege to fly and something to be proud of as a Pakistani...Unfortunately not anymore.
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Jul 23, 2014 12:15pm
@Nero: so you consider UAE and Saudi Arabia as your brothers???
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Jul 23, 2014 12:35pm
For Pakistan all problems can only be solved if somehow money is involved, either by privatization of PIA or letting the PIA management buy numerous fleets.
in any case large sum of money should be involved.
As tax payer citizen of Pakistan can only wish, to leave Pakistan and never to see Pakistanis.
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Jul 23, 2014 12:47pm
My family (wife and kids) just traveled from Jeddah to Lahore today morning on PIA (PK760). Since my wife was traveling alone with two small kids, I wanted her journey to be a trouble free one and bought the business class tickets. Worst experience. Flight was earlier changed to all-economy without any notification. I had to run around and get the ticket changed to business class on another flight. But then PIA changed it back to the original plane one day before the departure. So I had the the ticket changed back to original booking as well and was asked to pay the difference in fare (seriously?) which I did. Even then, no one knew at the check-in counter which plane will be going. The flight was delayed by 2.5 hours. Once landed, the baggage took more than an hour to arrive even though the business class was supposed to get the baggage at priority. The PIA website is from a stone-age era, where I was unable to *correctly* track the flight (it showed flight not departed even after the plane had actually departed 3 hours ago).
Interestingly, the plane was one of the relative newer planes (Boeing 777-200), but it was merely the incompetent staff of PIA which made the entire journey an uncomfortable one. I will not make my family suffer the same again. Never again. (there goes another frequent flyer customer, dear PIA)
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Jul 23, 2014 01:13pm
@Asad: I live in Europe and travel all over very frequently and try to avoid PIA as far as possible. Few months back took a domestic flight from Islamabad to Karachi and that was a nightmare traveling without air conditioning. My advice to all, forget about being patriotic and follow whosoever gives you best service.
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Jul 23, 2014 01:15pm
Today Indian finance minister has warned sick public sector units that they should learn to compete to survive, else the government will close them down. PIA should be sold to go private.
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Jul 23, 2014 01:18pm
@abuzar: airline is seriously considering removing all female cabin staff as it is unislamic and making drastic changes to inflight entertainment system where one can only watch/listen Islamic lectures from all top scholars and hate preachers!! This is the only way youcan understand the meaning of "great people to fly with"
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Jul 23, 2014 01:40pm
I just travelled from Islamabad to Heathrow on Saturday on pk785. The amount of ground staff i.e customs and narcotics checks were just down right ludicrous. I was hustled for absolute no reason for 45mins as they were pushing for bribes. I found this notoriously outrageous. The system of then reaching the check-in is nothing but disasterly annoying and in the realm of stone age. The aircraft was one third full ( where have all the potential passengers gone? ). The flight was equally and absolutely sub standard. Its an embarrassment to us in front of the world. Somebody needs to step in now.
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Jul 23, 2014 01:41pm
I always used to fly on PIA but after so many bad experiences I would try to avoid this airline where ever possible. Can you imagine an 8-9 hours flight with No head phones and the tv screens not working? Air condition not working until the plane is lifting off? Shame on them.
As far as the muslim countries are concerned please note that all those flights that used to travel via Karachi fly via Dubai now so do you really think Dubai would help Pakistan get it's act together? THey (Dubai) along with Saudi Arabia would rather see Pakistan unstable as this benefits both of these countries weather it's because of trade in the Air or be it massive trade through Gawadar port. Please don't think that I am putting all the blame on others because I lay ALL the blame on ourselves for allowing this to happen. So my dear Pakistani brothers and sisters please wake up before it's too late and do not bring Islam into everything.
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Jul 23, 2014 02:02pm
The airline is simply running the same way Pakistan is being run. No surprises here
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Jul 23, 2014 02:19pm
PIA is always late, maybe if they were forced to compensate passengers for delays between 3 and 20 hours we can put PIA out of its misery once and for all.
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Jul 23, 2014 02:23pm
@L Ahmad I think that (we) Pakistanis have this problem (in general). Of course, there are always exceptions.
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Jul 23, 2014 02:29pm
The Saudis and Emirates are not brothers of ours they treat Pakistanis with extreme contempt, i have heard many a story about how they treat Pakistani workers in Saudi, even a mate was thrown into a shurta police van as he was wearing shalwar kameez it was only when he started talking to them in English that they took him out of the van....brothers...in name only.
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Jul 23, 2014 03:43pm
@Muhammed Ali brother don't blame others, we deserve every bit. Its us that have to change and earn respect instead of complaining and demanding
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Jul 23, 2014 04:19pm
@Asad It has always been this way, only we trying to be patriotic, prefer PIA but they have now lowered their service's level beyond repair. I traveled a couole of months back from Dubai, delay wasas usual, but as we were to enter the plane, the hostess said your hand carry will be checked in, I had no issue, so I handed it over and got my tag, wondering only if it reaches intact without anything missing. But funniest of all things was that when I reached to the carousel to colllect my checked baggage, my hand carry though was intact, but my checked luggage without its number lock and wide open! And 2 boxes of cigars along with some other things were as if flown back to Dubai themselves... and I registered the complaint but till this day haven't heard from relevant authorities.
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Jul 23, 2014 04:58pm
All countries should construct a separate airport separately for PIA and should reserve all airspace for PIA Planes.
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Jul 23, 2014 09:38pm
Mr Nawaz Sharif if you cannot solve the problems of PIA than i think you may consider starting a metro bus Service to Dubai and all the commuters may be given free laptops for entertainment enroute.
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Jul 23, 2014 11:46pm
Pia is preferred airline for Pakistanis as it understands Pakistanis well and provide services to the satisfaction of its customers. Don't be so negative or critical for our national flag carrier.
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Jul 24, 2014 12:42am
@Mkq - What "flag carrier". Is that the respect they give to our flag after reading what many have said here? Be real!
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Jul 24, 2014 02:55am
This is how you pay for unprofessional governance. Total humiliation but the governments is shameless.
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Jul 24, 2014 03:08am
@Nero Please stop using the word "Muslim Brothers" for GOD SAKE !!!
The world as we know it identifies itself with a word called "Countries"
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Jul 24, 2014 05:38am
@SKB-535: It is not only PAI, its employees and management, the whole nation has a bad and self destructive attitude.
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Jul 24, 2014 07:22am
Who wants to make money or great cuts to buy more aircraft? Good way of fooling the people of Pakistan. With lessor aircraft of PIA, there should be less problems for Dubai or for Saudi Arabia in allocating the slots for landing and take off.. Problem comes only when there are more aircraft. I have been an Air Traffic Controller. This Government of Pakistan has already ruined the Pakistan Railways and the Pakistan International Airlines by putting goo fish people as the Ministers. Both the Railways and the Airlines should be sold to one of the 22 richest families of Pakistan who will run them better.
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Jul 24, 2014 01:24pm
I don't think PIA plane for King Sharif will arrive late when it's due to collect the heavy burden of King's family on it's wings!!
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Jul 24, 2014 03:42pm
@Danish my friend which world are you living in - PIA's majority passengers are on complimentary tickets ie they are mostly family members of PIA staff - i had the experence some years back flying PIA from karachi to london anf half the plane were complementary ticket holders - how can PIA make profit?
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Jul 24, 2014 04:08pm
@Sajjad Khan
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
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Jul 24, 2014 04:10pm
@AZ
Been there done that ,, Plus they're rude,,,,,,,
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Jul 24, 2014 04:12pm
@Irfan UK
Coming from USA,,, I always fly other than PIA,, even if it means twice the fare,,,,, U guys can fly with GREAT people,, I aint !!!
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Jul 24, 2014 04:12pm
@Irfan UK
Coming from USA,,, I always fly other than PIA,, even if it means twice the fare,,,,, U guys can fly with GREAT people,, I aint !!!
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Jul 24, 2014 04:13pm
@danial
I agree with you,,,,, But still they treat brown skin differently than white,,,
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Jul 24, 2014 04:14pm
@Amjad Haroon
Nice Joke,, made me smile,,,
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Jul 24, 2014 04:15pm
@rana tunga
Well said,, I am all for it !
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Jul 24, 2014 04:16pm
@Farrukh Munir
HA HA ,,, well said Farrukh,,,
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Jul 24, 2014 09:13pm
PIA should become a budget airline. For most PAkistanis looking to travel, they always look for the cheapest airline. Living in Malaysia, my choice has been Sri Lankan Airlines. Though it is not a budget airline, its pricing is very reasonable and its service is up to mark, with friendly staffs. In fact, Karachi has been so profitable for Sri Lankan Airlines that they requested Pakistan to let them fly to other cities but I believe the request was denied, possibly because Pakistan knew PIA would plunge. PIA should make reforms to its management sector in order to enjoy revive the company.
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Jul 25, 2014 03:54am
@Danish Simple, very simple. PIA is at loss due to over staffing. Too many staff for few aircraft. How will privatisation help in presence of too many staff ?
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Jul 25, 2014 03:55am
@Alia Yes indeed, cutting of staff is the need of the time.
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Jul 25, 2014 05:01am
Because PIA is full of managers who are making millions of rupees . Every king that comes to POWER in Pakistan inducts his own cronies , good-for-nothing people .
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Jul 25, 2014 06:04am
What happened to the high salaried PAF folks hired by PIA a few months ago. Do they not, along with everyone else drawing giant salaries, have to be held accountable for this mess.
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Jul 25, 2014 11:40am
They privatized Karachi electric.Things are worse. Cost of electricity keeps rising. The UAE based owners transfer whatever they earn out of country. No money spent on power plants, grid stations or new wires on the street Electricity is a nightmare in Karachi. Obviously those who sold it got the kick back. If PIA is sold there should be some agreement with the new owners that they need to spend money on infra structure as well in collaboration with Aviation authority
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Jul 25, 2014 12:49pm
@syed Karachi Electric is subject of two already published Harvard case studies detailing how much the privatization of it has been successful. You can find them at Harvard site. Perhaps you should read them before commenting on a subject matter you have no clue about.
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Jul 25, 2014 02:20pm
I have another perspective!! This is not public information. How come this PIA mismanagement become public news? Something is cooking??
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Jul 25, 2014 10:44pm
Things are going from bad to worst in Pakistan as PIA is doing badly, railways are in poor state and roads are even worst. Which mode of transport is left for people to use ? The last resort is bullock cart which is not far away.
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Jul 25, 2014 10:54pm
There is a famous saying that the cat taught the lion everything except to climb the tree i..e so the cat could escape the lion in this last resort. However stupid PIA helped Dubai launch Emirates and probably taught more than needed. Now kiss your luck good bye.
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Jul 26, 2014 01:28am
@Nero ...Hahahaha
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Jul 26, 2014 01:30am
@roger_davis ...Hain?
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Jul 26, 2014 04:59am
This mismanagement is only to sale PIA to favourites
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Jul 26, 2014 03:59pm
We don't need to have PIA. Just simply shutdown this outfit.
God bless Pakistan.
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Jul 27, 2014 04:39am
@Nero
This is business, it has got nothing to do with religion. Follow the rules of the land where ever you go.
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Jul 27, 2014 01:14pm
@Mohammad Taha
I beg to difer with you. Sri Lankan airlines was most likely refused because they did not pay bribes to Pakistani authorities. Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar, Etihad all fly to all cities in Pakistan.
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Jul 27, 2014 01:17pm
@Asad I love my family too much to allow them to travel by PIA.
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Jul 27, 2014 01:25pm
@roger_davis I admire your patriotism. For me, punctuality, maintenance of aircrafts, professionalism of staff (both on the ground and in the air), cleanliness, comfort in the air and sense of safety & security are far more important. In the last 25 years, I have flown PIA once and it was a terrible experience. Never again.
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Jul 27, 2014 11:47pm
The state of affairs in PIA is the true reflection of state of affairs in Pakistan.
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Jul 28, 2014 02:27am
@arif. I think PIA needs to shut down, It is more of a nuisance than an efficient airline. All the muft khoray and sifarshis need to be kicked out. It is a bankrupt agency and a burden to Pakistan and to our economy. The people who have emotional connection with PIA need to travel in it just once and they will experience the curse themselves. Rest can continue flying and enjoying the other airlines as usual.
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Jul 29, 2014 03:34am
This is how you fix PIA: 1) Hire an outsider as President or COO. 2) Give him an absolute power. 3) Make all Unions Illegal in PIA. 4) Make a rule that non-performing or non-courteous staff can be fired immediately. 5) No travel or other benefits for PIA staffers. 6) Take PIA out of the jaws of the incompetents of Ministry of Defense. 7) No political hiring and those already in should immediately be fired.
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