PIA Ending New York Flights

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hrzaidi
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by hrzaidi »

Possibly available for the last time ever, I recorded the PIA arrival and departure info that day from the PIA flight info center (audio in the file below). Sad ending.

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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by FKhan722 »

Truly A sad day..if my memory serves me correctly back in the early 90's PIA was kicking ass out of New York with 10 weekly flights. 7 terminated at JFK and 3 extended on to Toronto. All of the following is from memory...transit stops included Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt. Later in the 90's, Zurich, Shannon and then Manchester were inducted.

Monday - PK 713/714 - A310
Tuesday - PK 703/704 - B747
Wednesday - PK 721/722 - B747
Thursday - PK 723/724 - A310
Friday - PK 715/716 - B747
Saturday - PK 711/712 - B747
Sunday - PK 717/718 - B747

These were the 7 NY-JFK terminators - i dont recall the exact days/flight numbers for the 3 Toronto extensions but if i remember correctly they might have been on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

None the less - my heart bleeds for a once great airline :(

Hopefully one day they return - but until then Emirates/Qatar/Etihad/Turkish zindabad!!

Best Regards,
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Abbas Ali »

According to DAWN News channel, PIA Board of Directors (BoD) is unhappy because it was not informed by airline's management about decision to end New York service from October 28.

Earlier, the airline had planned to operate once-a-week service for New York from October 17 to December 31 before ending it.

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Sadiq
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Sadiq »

I travelled on PIA last flight operating ex-NYC Pk 712/28 October, which was delayed by 02.50 hrs.

Reason for delay is interesting and highlight the incompetence and inefficiency of PIA NYC District Manager who booked last few years PIA record at the station in umpteen number of cartons onboard the flight without pre clearance from TSA.

Since TSA conducted thorough check of cargo, the departure was delayed and since another arrival was skd on the bay 29 where the aircraft was parked, so full load aircraft was towed to far away bay 62 where these cartons were loaded and ultimately 310 pax were made to sit in A/c for 02.50 hrs. In total discomfort.

Since same A/c were skd to operate Pk 307/29 October it was also delayed by 01.30 hrs

Only if the old record was pre cleared from TSA, delays of both the flights could have been avoided.
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Amaad Lone »

The board of Directors, along with PIA employees, members of parliament, senators all the people who are unhappy with the New York flight closing.

Because now they will have to pay for their bloody tickets to the United States

No VIP service to New York

Enough free loading blood suckers

The crew getting long layovers with twice a week flights made tons of money on TA DA.

Tons of employees use to skip and disappear in the US.

all finished.
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Vaqar Khan »

Sadiq wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:41 pm I travelled on PIA last flight operating ex-NYC Pk 712/28 October, which was delayed by 02.50 hrs.

Reason for delay is interesting and highlight the incompetence and inefficiency of PIA NYC District Manager who booked last few years PIA record at the station in umpteen number of cartons onboard the flight without pre clearance from TSA.

Since TSA conducted thorough check of cargo, the departure was delayed and since another arrival was skd on the bay 29 where the aircraft was parked, so full load aircraft was towed to far away bay 62 where these cartons were loaded and ultimately 310 pax were made to sit in A/c for 02.50 hrs. In total discomfort.

Since same A/c were skd to operate Pk 307/29 October it was also delayed by 01.30 hrs

Only if the old record was pre cleared from TSA, delays of both the flights could have been avoided.
This might explain a news report in Duniya News this evening. PIA left a dead body booked from New York for Lahore, though the deceased prrson's brother was boarded on the aircraft and was carrying all the paperwork. Upon arrival at Lahore he found that the body was still in New York. The family from Sahiwal were protesting. Wonder if this was done to create space for all the afore mentioned cartons! :-k
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Abbas Ali »

According to Dunya News channel, two dead bodies were not transported by airline's last flight from New York to Pakistan.

CEO PIA has taken notice of the incident and asked airline officials to make arrangements for transportation of bodies to Pakistan. The airline will also bear burial expenses.

As far as I know, PIA transported dead bodies for free.

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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Abbas Ali »

Talking to news media during visit to London, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that loss-making PIA New York service should have been shut down years ago.

PM Abbasi said he has only ten percent shares in airblue and airblue has no plan to start flights for New York.

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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Abbas Ali »

PALPA opposes routes closure

October 30, 2017

KARACHI:
The management of national flag carrier lacking commercial aviation experience and knowledge has made a big blunder by closing down the New York route as it was not only a prestigious but strategically and technically an important destination for the airline.

A statement issued after a meeting of the executive committee of Pakistan Air Line Pilots’ Association (PALPA) said that this was a poor decision which would have far-reaching impacts on the commercial viability of the airline while the financial damage incurred will have to borne by the airline on its entire network.

The executive committee decided to approach the Senate and NA standing committees to brief them regarding the disastrous impact of shrinking of the network. Glasgow, Frankfurt, Chicago and many other profitable routes have been closed citing losses through juggling of figures whereas the airline keeps on incurring a loss on many domestic routes like Gilgit, Chitral, Skardu, Gwadar, Pasni and Zhob, but continue to provide service due to noncommercial reasons.

“The current management does not have commercial aviation experience and should not have even thought of closing down this route because once it’s gone it would not be reclaimed and the traffic once diverted towards other carriers will not be attracted back as is the case of Mid-East diaspora which has been shifted on Gulf carriers from many major and smaller cities of Pakistan,” said Palpa President Capt. Khalid Hamza.

“PIA is being systematically ruined due to vested interest, we had these prestigious landing rights since 1952 and PIA was the first Asian airline to operate transatlantic flights on a jet aeroplane,” he added.

“This is a strategic route, though less-profitable, no airline in such cut-throat competition makes a huge profit on these routes, rather the presence of your country’s flag there is considered more important,” Hamza added.

He said that there should have been slot evaluation before taking such a drastic decision. “Political appointments at the top in PIA have been taking non-aviation decisions against fleet planning and management,” he added.

The meeting observed that PIA acquired a fleet of long-range 777 for long-haul flights whose startup of engine cycle costs $ 30,000 while extended range 777 with a cycle of $ 12000 were also bought. “The management should have opted for using extended range 777 on the Manchester-New York route to keep the route intact and use long range 777 on profitable Toronto route,” reasoned Palpa President.

He said that the higher management should have been working towards making the airline grow instead of shrinking it. “The blurred vision of the higher management of the airline is working on the contrary and is planning further closures like Barcelona, Milan and Paris,” he reasoned.

“Indecision and poor decisions at the top level had several far-reaching and unpleasant outcomes and one wrong decision makes the airline suffer for years as many of us have witnessed in the recent years,” said Capt. Hamza.

“Decisions like recent premier services and leasing an aircraft $ 2700 per hour when private airlines are leasing the same aircraft $ 1800 per hour can only muster kickbacks rather than profitability, are a glaring example of poor decisions,” he added.

Source: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/201 ... s-closure/
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Abbas Ali »

Etihad Airways to Transport Dead Body Left Behind by Last PIA Flight From New York

* Expenses to be borne by PIA

Karachi, October 31, 2017:
CEO PIA, Dr. Musharraf Rasool Cyan had taken a serious notice of leaving behind the two human remains in New York and ordered an inquiry, PIA Spokesperson said.

According to initial report received from New York it was mainly due negligence on part of foreign ground handling agency at JFK Airport. Two human remains that were to be transported from New York to Lahore via PIA flight PK-712 of 28th October 2017, were left behind at New York Airport. All ground handling at New York is conducted by the ground handling company. Meanwhile, CEO PIA taking serious note of the issue personally supervised all alternate arrangements to bring back the human remains. The body of Mr. Nauman Badar will be buried in Maryland as per instructions of family members while the body of late Mr. Nasir Ali will be transported through Etihad Airways to reach Lahore on 1st November 2017 as it was PIA’s last flight in current temporary suspension of its operation to New York. PIA will look after the arrangements in this regard and all expenses will be borne by PIA.

PIA management regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence on part of the airline’s ground handling agency at New York Airport and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons, PIA Spokesman concluded.

Source: PIA Press Release (October 31, 2017)
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by Abbas Ali »

^ The New York service is temporarily suspended, according to PIA press release.

Maybe PIA intends to resume New York service after getting a number of its Boeing 777s upgraded with new passenger seats and IFE.

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ammad
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by ammad »

Vaqar Khan wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:29 pm
Sadiq wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:41 pm I travelled on PIA last flight operating ex-NYC Pk 712/28 October, which was delayed by 02.50 hrs.

Reason for delay is interesting and highlight the incompetence and inefficiency of PIA NYC District Manager who booked last few years PIA record at the station in umpteen number of cartons onboard the flight without pre clearance from TSA.

Since TSA conducted thorough check of cargo, the departure was delayed and since another arrival was skd on the bay 29 where the aircraft was parked, so full load aircraft was towed to far away bay 62 where these cartons were loaded and ultimately 310 pax were made to sit in A/c for 02.50 hrs. In total discomfort.

Since same A/c were skd to operate Pk 307/29 October it was also delayed by 01.30 hrs

Only if the old record was pre cleared from TSA, delays of both the flights could have been avoided.
This might explain a news report in Duniya News this evening. PIA left a dead body booked from New York for Lahore, though the deceased prrson's brother was boarded on the aircraft and was carrying all the paperwork. Upon arrival at Lahore he found that the body was still in New York. The family from Sahiwal were protesting. Wonder if this was done to create space for all the afore mentioned cartons! :-k
Infact there are two dead bodies schedule to Arrive. And dead bodies have priority over Cargo, they should unload Cargo to Adjust dead bodies. This pretty much sum up sorry state of PIA matters which compel this very welcome closure of JFK route.

In my opinion this particular incident is enough to hand over pink slip to PIA D.M. JFK, after his arrival in to Pakistan.
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by mianazeem »

"the presence of your country’s flag there is considered more important,” Hamza added.
Totally wrong. Who you want to show that flag to ? Its a changed world. If you are loosing money then try to find out the reason WHY? Otherwise just STOP it and look for other alternatives. No need for emotionalism. I have flown with PIA to the U.S on few occasions and I remember the flights being full most of the time. (I was refused boarding to Houston one time because of over booking). Passengers are not the problem. Its the corrupt management.
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

Post by mohammad »

ammad wrote: Tue Oct 31, 2017 7:50 pm
Vaqar Khan wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:29 pm
Sadiq wrote: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:41 pm I travelled on PIA last flight operating ex-NYC Pk 712/28 October, which was delayed by 02.50 hrs.

Reason for delay is interesting and highlight the incompetence and inefficiency of PIA NYC District Manager who booked last few years PIA record at the station in umpteen number of cartons onboard the flight without pre clearance from TSA.

Since TSA conducted thorough check of cargo, the departure was delayed and since another arrival was skd on the bay 29 where the aircraft was parked, so full load aircraft was towed to far away bay 62 where these cartons were loaded and ultimately 310 pax were made to sit in A/c for 02.50 hrs. In total discomfort.

Since same A/c were skd to operate Pk 307/29 October it was also delayed by 01.30 hrs

Only if the old record was pre cleared from TSA, delays of both the flights could have been avoided.
This might explain a news report in Duniya News this evening. PIA left a dead body booked from New York for Lahore, though the deceased prrson's brother was boarded on the aircraft and was carrying all the paperwork. Upon arrival at Lahore he found that the body was still in New York. The family from Sahiwal were protesting. Wonder if this was done to create space for all the afore mentioned cartons! :-k
Infact there are two dead bodies schedule to Arrive. And dead bodies have priority over Cargo, they should unload Cargo to Adjust dead bodies. This pretty much sum up sorry state of PIA matters which compel this very welcome closure of JFK route.

In my opinion this particular incident is enough to hand over pink slip to PIA D.M. JFK, after his arrival in to Pakistan.

Im not sure what the protocols are in other airlines for removing dead bodies which are being carried for free vs luggage of fare paying passengers.
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Re: PIA Ending New York Flights

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PIA leaves two coffins behind in New York

November 01, 2017

LAHORE:
The PIA last flight from New York left behind two bodies, booked for Lahore, at the JFK Airport to the utter shock of the accompanying and the waiting family members at the airport here, initially showing no remorse or willingness to compensate for the happening.

A man who was accompanying the body of his brother, his ailing father and another brother who were awaiting in Lahore, have left for New York to locate and take care of the body after waiting for two days for any remedial step by the PIA. "The grieved family have been agonised," said Hasan Mubarak, a cousin, who was to receive the body at the Lahore airport.

PIA CEO Dr Musharraf Rasool Cyan has taken a serious notice of leaving behind the two human remains in New York and ordered an inquiry, says a PIA spokesperson in the meantime.

In a press release issued here, the spokesperson said according to initial report received from New York it was mainly due to the negligence on the part of a foreign ground handling agency at the JFK Airport.

According to Mr Hasan Mubarak, his cousin Nauman Badar, 28, died in the US on Oct 25. It took two days for his brother, Bilal, to have all legal and medical formalities completed. Funeral prayers were held on Oct 27 and the body was to be loaded to a Lahore-bound flight the next day. This was arranged for, and the last flight of PIA to the USA left the JFK Airport, New York, for Lahore on Oct 28, carrying the body, and Bilal.

At the Lahore airport, Hasan Mubaarak was to formally receive the body on Oct 29. With him were the father of the deceased, Chaudhry Shafqat Badar, around 70 and a heart patient, and his another son Umar Badar, both had come from Sahiwal.

Hasan said the flight arrived Lahore airport nearly two hours behind its scheduled landing time. And to the utter horror of the accompanying Bilal and the awaiting family members the body was not found in the luggage area. Here they came across a family from Sialkot who were also trying to find out the body of a relative which was also to be carried to Lahore from New York by the same flight.

He said the bodies were enlisted in the cargo list and it initially was found out that they were replaced by some luggage, containing catering items, not included in the list. The bodies lay unattended at the JFK Airport for 14 hours and nobody from PIA knew where they were. Finally, he said, his family members contacted the funeral company that had prepared the coffin which actually found the stranded bodies.

The body of his cousin was retrieved by the funeral company on the family’s request and was being kept in its morgue, he said, adding agonized by the incident and the lack of any commitment by the PIA [as to] how to retrieve the bodies or to transport them to Pakistan, the brothers and the father of the deceased had to go to New York in despair on Oct 30 (Monday). They were to land there late on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the PIA press release said two human remains that were to be transported from New York to Lahore via PIA flight PK 712 of Oct 28 2017, were left behind at New York Airport. All [ground] handling at New York is conducted by the ground handling company.

Meanwhile, the PIA CEO taking notice of the issue personally supervised all alternative arrangements to bring back the human remains. The body of Mr Nauman Badar will be buried in Maryland as per instructions of family members while the (second) body of Mr Nasir Ali will be transported through Etihad Airways to reach Lahore on Nov 1 (today), as it was PIA’s last flight in current temporary suspension of its operation to New York. PIA will look after the arrangements in this regard and all expenses will be borne by it.

“The PIA management regrets the inconvenience caused due to negligence on the part of airline’s ground handling agency at New York Airport and expresses its sympathies with the family members of the deceased persons,” the PIA spokesman concluded.

Mr Hasan said none from the PIA had so far contacted him or those in America.

Source: DAWN
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