With British Airways and Virgin Atlantic ruling the roost, it’s clear that PIA needs to change its operations to compete in their markets. It will have to offer a product that is different from their competitors and compete on price and product. If it does, it can regain its former position.
PIA’s fleet
In a bid to upgrade its fleet, Pakistan International Airlines has contracted leasing firm AerCap to provide it with four new Airbus A320 aircraft. The first A320 landed in Pakistan in April, and two more will be arriving soon. According to PIA’s CEO, Arshad Malik, these new planes will replace the aircraft on lease and will provide a better travel experience for passengers. Currently, the airline operates thirteen Airbus A320 aircraft, but the new aircraft will be able to expand that fleet to fourteen by 2026.
Despite its newfound prosperity, the airline has faced a variety of challenges. For starters, it is barred from using the airspace of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the US. However, that ban does not mean PIA is doomed to a life of poverty and financial ruin. Instead, PIA needs to rethink its business strategy and develop a different product that will attract customers to fly it.
Pakistan International Airlines began its Air Express service in the early 1970s, flying documents and parcels within the country. In 1974, PIA launched a dedicated cargo division. During its initial years, it operated two Boeing 707-320Cs and two Airbus A300 Freighters. It also flew to several destinations in Europe and the Middle East, including Paris, Dubai, and London.
PIA has been in the process of tendering for a new airline operator. As the nation’s flag carrier, Pakistan International Airlines offers service to many domestic and international destinations. Its main hub is at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, while its secondary hubs are at Allama Iqbal International Airport and Islamabad International Airport.
Its Hajj quota
Pakistan International Airlines has started preparations to fly more than 300 Hajj pilgrims to the Holy Land from May 31 to August 13, 2019. The airline will operate Boeing 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft from eight cities across the country, including Karachi. The airline has set a fare of Rs110,000 per person for flights departing from Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The government has a quota of 81,000 pilgrims, of which it will take about 60% and distribute the rest to private operators. However, there are few applications this year. As a result, only about 37,000 people will be able to use the government scheme, and the remaining will have to fly on private operators.
The airline will charge Hajj pilgrims fares in dollars, instead of rupees. The decision was made one and a half years ago, but its implementation was stalled due to flight restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the delay, airfares are expected to remain at a similar level to last year.
PIA’s flights to Saudi Arabia are scheduled to begin one month later than originally planned. This delay has triggered a number of questions among both private and national airlines. The airlines will have to adhere to the government’s Hajj quota in order to continue flying to the holy land.
Its aircraft
The livery of PIA Pakistan International Airlines’ aircraft has been updated since its launch in 2010. The redesigned livery is based on the new brand identity that the airline unveiled in April of this year. The new livery features a portrait of a Markhor that represents the resilient nature of the PIA Brand. The company’s logo also has undergone a transformation.
The airline’s fleet includes four Boeing 737-800 aircraft. PIA had been leasing the aircraft from Pegasus Airlines, but has returned them after the lease period expired. However, the airline’s nonstop service to New York City was terminated in October 2017 due to TSA regulations. Despite this, the airline still flies to Toronto, which is the only destination in North America served by nonstop flights.
The airline plans to add four new Airbus A-320 aircraft to its fleet this year. Two of the aircraft have already joined the airline’s fleet, while two more are expected to join in the next month. PIA also plans to refurbish five of its existing Airbus A-320s. This process should take about four months. In addition, the airline has met with the Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq to discuss its plans. He also ordered that the airline replace the seats on its two Boeing 777 long-haul aircraft, which operate on the Canadian route.
The aircraft being offered by the airline should have a PIA certification and have operated at least five passenger charter flights within the past two years. Additionally, the aircraft should have a minimum of five seats and be equipped with IOSA certification. The company will consider single-class aircraft, but will place a higher value on units that offer lie-flat business class seats. In addition, the aircraft should be able to deploy on a variety of routes, including domestic and international flights.
Its livery
The new PIA livery is based on the national flag of Pakistan. The airline’s tail is decorated with the Pakistan flag in gold. It is also adorned with a stylised PIA logo in Urdu. This livery is expected to be used for a period of two years, before it is repainted in a different livery.
PIA Pakistan International Airlines introduced a new brand identity in April 2018. The new livery incorporates a portrait of the indigenous Markhor to represent the resilient nature of the brand. It was designed to appeal to international customers. In addition, the PIA logo was updated with a new font.
The new PIA livery has a green stripe that extends from the tail to the aft fuselage. This livery was applied to the airline’s first two Boeing 777-200ER aircraft and two newly leased Airbus A310s. The airline’s name is printed in calligraphic Urdu behind the cockpit, while a PIA logo is displayed on the tail.
In 2003, Pakistan International Airlines launched the PIA Speedex courier service. It initially served the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. Within a year, it had expanded its network to 12 cities and is now serving more than 70 cities in Pakistan. The company also sponsors various events in Pakistan.
Its rebranding
A new look for PIA is coming to Pakistani air travel. The airline has decided to change its logo from the Pakistani flag to the national animal, the markhor. Markhors are known for their resilience and are the country’s symbol of courage. In July 2014, the airline began applying a redesigned livery on its aircraft, replacing the old Urdu PIA logo. PIA officials plan to unveil their new planes at the airport inauguration event on April 20.
PIA is the largest airline in Pakistan, with a fleet of over 30 aircraft. Its flights are scheduled to operate over 100 times a day, serving 22 domestic and 28 international destinations. It serves passengers from Asia to North America, Europe and the Middle East. As of the time of writing, PIA had just begun to fly non-stop flights from Toronto to Pakistan.
PIA has also added a new livery on its aircraft. The new livery features a painting of Pakistan’s national animal, the Markhor. This animal lives in mountainous regions and is considered the national animal of Pakistan. The Markhor also represents the resilient nature of the PIA brand.
The new livery was first introduced on an Airbus A310 and a Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The green and gold stripe began at the bottom of the fuselage and continued into the tail cone. The new livery is seen on the Airbus A310, Boeing 777-200, and Boeing 747-300 models. The old livery still includes the Pakistan flag and the national flag.
