THIS refers to the letter ‘Privatised PIA is still a sick airline’ (Sept 20). The poor standard of service and inadequacies highlighted did not come as a surprise to those well conversant with the airline business and, indeed, with the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The consortium that recently acquired the airline is diverse, but without much exposure to professional aviation.

The most precious assets in an airline are the routes/traffic rights/slots, and PIA had plenty of these. However, the Privatisation Commission chose not to give much consideration to the valuation of these invisible assets in determining an acceptable floor price. Post privatisation, the consortium is fortunate to get certain concessions from the government, including a sovereign guarantee for a commercial loan. Despite such facilitation, the airline seems to be stuck where it was.

Grounded aircraft cost millions of rupees daily in lost revenues. Airborne planes with empty seats also mean millions in lost revenues. There is little information of any credible plan to bring the grounded aircraft back into operation quickly. No airline with a sizeable grounded fleet can remain viable. There seems to be little focus on bolstering/upgrading the capability of the Engineering Department. Skewed priorities, like change of the uniform of the cabin crew, will not revive the airline. It is not feasible to look for new aircraft with distant-date availability and punishing cost. The focus must remain on stabilisation and consolidation initially.

Arif Majeed
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026