newscaster
27th Feb 2006, 17:57
With the summer schedule they are going to use 772ER to Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Oslo, Amsterdam and Istanbul which will be resumed in the next few months after six years of suspension CPH-OSL and IST-AMS are single routed flights. Birmingham is also rumored to get the type.
In Asia they will use it on KUL-SIN service replacing A310, this will be the first time they will use the 777 on east Asian services.
Off topic but they will also be returning to Manila by adding more flights to Tokyo via there using A310, MNL was dropped in Jan 2002.
Dr747
28th Feb 2006, 13:07
Here is more from the chairman of PIA...
PIA to induct 29 aircraft in five years: Kirmani
KARACHI (February 28 2006): National career PIA will buy 29 new aircraft to induct into its existing fleet of 40 aircraft during the next five years.
This was stated by Tariq Kirmani, Chairman and CEO PIA at a colourful and impressive ceremony held at Karachi airport to mark the induction of fourth Boeing 777-200 LR into the airline fleet.
PIA will buy 12 Boeing 777-200 both LR and ER versions with 5th aircraft to be received in March 2006, Kirmani said.
He also said that besides 12 Boeing 777s, PIA will procure ATRs with first delivery to start from May this year and then one aircraft after every two month. He said PIA will get three ATRs this year, four next year and three bigger 75 seaters thereafter.
He disclosed that PIA is to replace its 737s for which a decision, whether to buy Boeing or Airbus, will be taken before June this year. For this purpose negotiations will be held with the Boeing and Airbus manufacturers.
Tariq Kirmani said that with procurement of these aircraft, PIA average fleet life will come down from 20-21 years to just nine years.
He announced that if more aircraft would be needed under its business plan, PIA will go ahead because it believes in fast expansion of the airline. It believes that airline's survival lay in expansion. If the fleet will be reduced or routes curtailed, it will lead to problems and the airline will not be able to run and do business, he added.
Tariq Kirmani pointed out that some 300 airlines of the world are registered with the IATA and their combined earning stands at 400 billion dollars while their losses account for 7.5 billion dollars.
However, these airlines have the exception like Singapore, Cathay Pacific, British, South West Airways, which are running in profitability due to fuel hedging. There will be no profitability without fuel hedging, he said.
He said at present PIA is spending 41 percent of its revenues on fuel, which is to be brought down to 25 percent. He said with the procurement of present 777-200, PIA expenditure will be 28 percent.
He said if windlets are installed on existing aircraft, PIA can save 2-3 percent in fuel cost and for this he will talk to Boeing people.
Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2006
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