ISLAMABAD – Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Chief Executive Officer,Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik, has said the monthly operational lossesof the airlines have been reduced to Rs. 1.5 billion compared to more thanRs. 3 billion before he assumed the charge.
“The reduction in operational losses became possible only due to day andnight efforts of PIA team comprising of those officers who have beenworking at PIA for many years,” he said during an interactive session withmembers of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
“However, a lot more still needs to be done to deal with PIA’s liabilitiesas whatever is earned by the airline is mostly spent on debt servicing”, headded
The CEO informed that the airline has a fleet of 31 aircraft, out of which29 aircraft were made fit and were in the air.
In order to expand its fleet, PIA has leased an aircraft (Airbus 320) fromits own resources, which will arrive on November 14 while another aircraftwill reach in December. Three to five wide-body aircraft will also be addednext year which will facilitate the business community taking directflights to Canada and London.
“PIA has the potential to grow but unfortunately due to poor policies andmanagement style, the issues being faced by the airline were largelyignored during the last 10 to 12 years, which resulted in overstaffing andexcessive liabilities,” he said.
He further stated that all the policies and decisions were dictated in thepast but not anymore, as all the decisions are now purely taken by themanagement keeping in view the business and commercial viability.
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“Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured that whatever is recommended by PIAwill be prioritized in the larger interest of the country,” he said andadded that during a Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister also categoricallystated that any individual found interfering in PIA’s affairs would facestrict action.
Referring to PIA’s cargo operation, Malik said only 20% of the availablecapacity was being airlifted which has now been improved to 80% because ofthe business community’s cooperation.
“The airline needs support and we will drop our cargo rates as compared tothe market rates if people choose to avail PIA’s cargo facility”, he said.
Highlighting PIA’s Hajj Operations 2019, he said that for the very firsttime, the entire Hajj Operation was solely carried out by PIA in which atotal of 83,000 pilgrims were facilitated without leasing any aircraft.Sukkur and Quetta stations were also operational for Hajj Pilgrims thisyear.
He also directed the concerned PIA Official to make arrangements forsigning a Memorandum of Understanding with Karachi Chamber by next Mondayfor setting up a PIA Office at KCCI’s premises which will provide extraservices and facilities to the business community.
