ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated PIA Premier, the luxury air service of Pakistan International Airlines, giving a major facelift to the national flag carrier.
The prime minister saw off passengers for the inaugural flight PK-785 to London at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport - an event which coincided with Pakistan's 70th Independence Day.
The Prime Minister took a round of the aircraft, met passengers and appreciated the quality of services on offer.
The cabin crew onboard were attired in new designer burgundy-maroon coloured uniforms with green scarves for women and men were in navy blue suits with green ties.
Earlier, the PIA CEO Bern Hildenbrand, in a briefing to the Prime Minister, said the project with new aircraft would be a “future gateway” for the PIA's financial success.
Read: Guess who has a new menu? PIA!
“With a hospitable crew, good food and excellent service, this is something we can compete with the world,” added Hildenbrand.
He mentioned the cooperation of Sri Lankan Airlines and the collective team work of PIA's management which helped in the launch of the quality air service in short time, under the directive of the premier.
Later, Sri Lankan Minister Hashim Kabir told APP that the launch of PIA Premier was a “symbolic moment of friendship” for Pakistan and Sri Lanka to intensify their close relationship in terms of trade, economy and culture.
He termed the project a mutually beneficial agreement between the two countries, and also recalled the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Colombo this January, which he said helped boost the economic relationship.
Chairman Sri Lankan Air Lines Ajith Dias in an interaction with APP said PIA had acquired on wet-lease three A-330 aircraft from Sri Lankan Airlines, with a fourth aircraft due to join the fleet in near future.
"Sri Lankan Airlines was delighted to be part of this project and would be providing a three-month long training course to PIA Premier pilots and cabin crew," said Dias.
Dias said Sri Lankan Airlines would also closely work with PIA in future projects including code shared flights and sharing of engineering services.
The aircraft, in brand new condition, are aimed at giving passengers a better experience, allowing PIA to start regaining its market share, he added.
There will be six weekly Premier service flights to London, three each from Islamabad and Lahore. Later, with addition of more aircraft, the service would be expanded to other destinations.
The aircraft is equipped with LCD screens and inflight entertainment with 250 channels on offer along with flat bed service for business-class passengers.
A complimentary limousine service for PIA Premier business-class passengers will be given upon their arrival at Heathrow Airport. The service will be available within a radius of 25 km from Heathrow Airport.
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Comments (47) Closed
Aug 14, 2016 07:49pm
Any idea about pricing and comparison with PIA..
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Aug 14, 2016 07:51pm
This cooperation "was a symbolic moment of friendship for Pakistan and Sri Lanka to intensify their close relationship in terms of trade, economy and culture."
More of the same should be done in the region.
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Aug 14, 2016 07:51pm
PIA once started Emirates airlines which is a world leader now. Over three decades later, PIA needs Sri Lankan airlines to launch it's premier service. Can Mr. PM also comment on this sorry state of affairs?
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Aug 14, 2016 07:54pm
"Sri Lankan Airlines was delighted to be part of this project and would be providing a three-month long training course to PIA Premier pilots and cabin crew,"
So PIA crew is now getting trained by other countries? There was a time, PIA was one of the best airlines in the world, and a pride of the nation!
Does anyone remember, when Karachi used to have the largest Hangers and Maintenance Facility in all of Asia?
When Airlines from all over Asia, Middle East, Africa and even Europe used to sent their aircraft for service by PIA Engineering?
PIA also used to train pilots and cabin crews from different countries?
PIA also helped launched airlines in Africa and Middle East, including the formidable Emirates Airlines, which flies to all corners of the world today, and is the best!?
And to and insult to injury, a nation of 180 million could not find one single capable Pakistani CEO to manage, let alone turn the airline around?
Next, perhaps, a foreign Prime Minister too!?
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Aug 14, 2016 08:06pm
Let the PIA have its own brand new planes with premier service of excellence
Bakamal Log,Lajwab Service.
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Aug 14, 2016 08:09pm
Wow what a great gift
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Aug 14, 2016 08:10pm
Sir
What about flights from karachi to London will not be premier???.
Seriously it is unfair and unacceptable!!!
Thanks
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Aug 14, 2016 08:46pm
Congratulations PIA........long overdue
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Aug 14, 2016 09:09pm
Great job guys
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Aug 14, 2016 09:14pm
We are very good at starting projects - Like we have just started a 'project' to clean Karachi from being a garbage dump and now PIA premier. How about maintaining and running the services in a normal and on an ongoing basis, like it is done else where in the world?
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Aug 14, 2016 09:18pm
Well done PIA, i am sure it is the come back of national carrier to claim the lost glory. Soon we will be back as a force in civil aviation like before with consistent hard work and honesty to customers. We will be doing what we promise to customers with dedication and zeal.
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Aug 14, 2016 09:26pm
What is the point running another service when you can't even run the main one, last Thursday PK782 from Toronto to Karachi was 12 hours late and diverted to Manchester. Luggage for all passengers are still missing
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Aug 14, 2016 09:29pm
With my recent experience with PK798 in Toronto. 32 hours delay and staff was unavailable or did not what to do.This is ridiculously inefficient airline, staff is unprofessional and not trained for the jobs they are doing. After 12 hours into the delay, called PIA office and they told that Flight is in the Air. I told them I an still at the gate. I was told that I had missed the flight. They did not even know the status of the flight. I will never ever travel with PIA even it is for free.
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Aug 14, 2016 09:47pm
Good news but it will be excellent news when flights starts from Karachi and the destination is Chicago.
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Aug 14, 2016 09:52pm
@Skeptic Pakistanis have headed multinationals in the US, UK and at a global level. No-one there asked why couldnt those companies find a CEO from within US. PIA has suffered immensely due to poor management and there is a dearth of 'quality' avaition professionals within country. The current CEO headed Lufthansa for several years and we should thank our lucky stars that we were able to convince him to come to Pakistan. And FYI whilst PIA did seconded staff who helped launch Emirates - they weren't on the 'driving seat' nor were they the part of the top management. Also, Pakistan has never been the 'global hub' for aviation maintainance. Stop relyiong on facebooks memes and whatsapp posts as your primary source of information, stop living in the past and accept things for what they are.
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Aug 14, 2016 09:54pm
@Skeptic Well said, although I slightly disagree on the CEO matter. It is better than having an incapable CEO appointed on the basis of local connection.
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Aug 14, 2016 10:06pm
@Skeptic - The downfall started after Zia usurped power. PIA was one of the finest airlines in the world but the descend started in the early 80s.
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Aug 14, 2016 10:07pm
The attitude of PIA's staff need to change if the airline is to survivor. Introducing new planes will not matter. Staff needs to realize that there job is to help the passengers which does not seem to be the case right now. Take any business, it's the employees that make it great or disaster, not the product. PIA can survive and be profitable again, just need to bring staff in line.
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Aug 14, 2016 10:24pm
no flights from Karachi? i thought it was the first place where pia took off f om and where emirates first landed.
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Aug 14, 2016 10:45pm
Not sure it needed a fanfare with the PM inaugurating a "Premium" service on the national airline and that ok the Independence Day. Such premium service would be considered a given on most airlines in the world today.
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Aug 14, 2016 10:50pm
@Journal_Pasha please name some of the multinationals in the US, UK or at global level, that were 'headed' by Pakistanis?
Kindly enlighten us with the names if these talented Pakistanis and their performance that we are not aware of?
Yes, Pakistanis have played key roles at AIG, Citicorp,World Bank etc. But none 'headed' the organization as CEO, COO or chairman of the Board.
If you were referring to Safi Qureshi of AST, where is he now, and what happened to the company?
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Aug 14, 2016 10:51pm
National carrier run by a foreigner something not strange they don't have someone from their ranks
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Aug 14, 2016 11:03pm
Last week on my way back, I dis-bounded from a Kenyan Airways flight at Dubai and had to take PIA flight too Islamabad. Already there was a gap of 14 long hours between the flights, every second of which I passed patiently but just at the end we were told that there is some problem in the luggage software so its taking time. I saw hardly there were 50-60 passengers in the waiting lounge. It took another 3 hours and only then we found out that actually they didn't had enough passengers and they wanted to fill the flight before takeoff so the drama of software glitch was played. Another regular passenger at this route said this has become a routine now. When we boarded the plane it was full to brim. So they are running it like Karachi's local mini bus W11. I wont take a chance next time.
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Aug 14, 2016 11:12pm
The real scoop is that Srilankan airlines had to do away with these planes due to high level of debt.
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Aug 14, 2016 11:21pm
Good step. But changing mentality is much more productive than attiring something weaker from within.
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Aug 14, 2016 11:28pm
@Skeptic , Pakistani pilots are indeed some of the best in the trade but of course they haven't had these new A-330 air crafts at PIA so they need a bit of training to get the required know how about these brand new machines. Sri lanka bought these planes from airbus and their pilots were then trained by the supplier, Airbus.
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Aug 15, 2016 12:04am
PIA Premier doesn't seem to improve punctuality.
The inaugural flight arrived in London 3hrs late
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Aug 15, 2016 12:14am
There was a time when PIA would train pilots, engineers and cabin crew of various international airlines of repute, including Air Lanka. Today PIA pilots will be btrained by Sri Lankan Airline. What a shame !
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Aug 15, 2016 12:37am
Im flying next month from Denmark to Lahore using PIA,,looking forward to it
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Aug 15, 2016 12:46am
@Hyder ...All other state holder's should come forward and recommend this comment of Mr. Hyder, why not Karachi included in this premier service..Together we stand.
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Aug 15, 2016 01:39am
Inauguration on 70th independence anniversary but NO flights from Qaid e Azam's city Karachi
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Aug 15, 2016 01:45am
@lafanga So the PM should be giving answers for the continuous plunge of PIA over 30 years? under different governments including the Military rules?
Pakistan is moving in right direction, slowly but this is how real world changes happen.
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Aug 15, 2016 01:49am
@Journal_Pasha Always a pleasure to see someone like you speaking out nothing but truth and facts instead of recalling childhood myths. When will this nation descend from the fantasy land into the real world.
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Aug 15, 2016 02:18am
Well it's a start, lets hope they improve and move forward.
Forget what PIA did in the past.
It's the politicians who ruined PIA, and all that was good in Pakistan.
Lets hope for better things to come to Pakistan.
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Aug 15, 2016 02:39am
British Airways does not operate any flights between London/United Kingdom and Pakistan! :) -- neither does Lufthansa between Germany and Pakistan! -- neither does Air France between France and Pakistan!
ONLY PIA flies between London and Pakistan -- so why start a new service when there is no competition?! -- fix PIA, which needs desperate improvements in every aspect.
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Aug 15, 2016 03:18am
When considering PIA's financial status, delays in departures and arrivals, and over all quality of management and crew, you would think PIA would work on performing like the premier PIA to win their worse than bad reputation. But as usual, instead of improving their quality of work and customer service, they have decided to charge a premium price for this premier PIA and have made no effort to improve the image by showing how they plan to win our hearts and our business. As a leader, I would have started from the inside and worked my way to the planes. If we take care of the little things, bigger issues fall into place, if PIA plans to succeed, they should start with the quality of people, not planes.
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Aug 15, 2016 03:21am
The worst airport in Pakistan with the best service for the national carrier! Amazing mismatch! Karachi and Lahore have terrible service to London despite being Pakistan's best airports while Islamabad ahs the best service to London despite being Pakistan's worst airport.
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Aug 15, 2016 03:59am
@lafanga
"PIA once started Emirates airlines..."
Incorrect!
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Aug 15, 2016 05:46am
Premier Service: Airline of the poor, by the poor, for the rich!
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Aug 15, 2016 07:06am
Economically it is bad idea to dedicate an entire flight for the Premier Class.
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Aug 15, 2016 07:58am
PPP bankrupts the organization and MLN cover ups the remains. This is divesting the nation of its assets.
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Aug 15, 2016 08:19am
Nawaz Sharif is habitual of constructing excellent roads and other facilities to his various properties in Pakistan at the state expense.Now he has done the same in PIA for his and family travel to his houses in London at the state expense.Common passengers will continue to suffer the same old fate.
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Aug 15, 2016 08:25am
@Journal_Pasha can agree more!!!! Pragmatic approach and a realistic view.
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Aug 15, 2016 10:29am
@Journal_Pasha Can you name some of the Pakistanis who are heading multinationals in the US, UK or elsewhere and the firms? You seem to have information, that Google does'nt.
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Aug 15, 2016 12:01pm
I took 2 return international flights on PIA in last 3 months & believe me it wasn't delayed for a minute & comparatively much cheaper.
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Aug 15, 2016 02:53pm
Essentially an airline created just for the snob, to appeal to their 'sense of entitlement. Another artificial class system created to segregate the haves and (economy class) have nots.
Most airlines, including PIA already has Business and First Class that anyone can choose for bit more money. Where else have you seen an entirely new service created under a 'Premier' banner?
All cosmetic, with no substance to address the real problem that PIA has been beset with for nearly three decades.
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Aug 15, 2016 07:23pm
@M.Malik @Naveed
Javed Ahmed –Chief Executive Officer of Tate & Lyle
Basit Ali – Chairman, President of Ethan Allen
Michael Chowdry – founder of air cargo company Atlas Air
Tariq Farid – owner and CEO of Edible Arrangements
Nabeel Gareeb – President and Chief Executive Officer of MEMC in 2002
Abbas Hashmi – founder of Green Card Capital
Fred Hassan – CEO of Schering-Plough from 2003-2009
Mansoor Ijaz – Chairman of Crescent Investment Management LLC
Shahid Khan – President of Flex-N-Gate Corp
Safi Qureshey – former CEO of AST Research
Atif Sheikh – Founder Atex Capital Partners
And that's just USA my 'enlightened' friends!
P.S: Most of these companies are part of Forbes 500
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