US imposes new curbs on PIA

April 05, 2012

LAHORE - Yet another security check imposed by the United States on PIA flights operating between the two countries will force the passengers to opt for an airline other than PIA, as the security check will increase the travel time from 16 to 25 hours, sources in PIA said on Wednesday. The security check will be conducted at the Manchester airport, where already the process was taking one and half hour, but the new restrictions are going to increase it to six and seven hours.As per details, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says after April 22, all passengers and luggage on board PIA aircrafts will be subjected to another security check at the Manchester airport prior to arriving in the US.Currently, a briefing is being already exercised in Manchester, which takes one and half hour but the TSA will now check all the baggage and cargo of the flight.

Sources disclosed that the PIA management was sending unaccompanied baggage to the US without mentioning it in the load manifest.In this context, the TSA had warned the PIA to load only that luggage mentioned in load manifest. But the PIA management kept continued sending unaccompanied and un-manifested baggage owned by influential of the country.Sources in the CAA claimed that it was a clear violation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, adding that the said baggage was not added to the manifest list for two reasons: Some influential people do not want to disclose its identity and they do not pay for it.A PIA official, while seeking anonymity, said there were two types of manifest with an international flight - passenger load and cargo load. The former is meant for the number of passengers while later convers the cargo. The PIA flies to New York via Manchester three times a week. The new restrictions will not only create problems for the passengers but also raise costs for the national flag carrier.

According to the PIA officials, the curbs may completely throw the airline flight schedule to the US in disarray. Observers believe that the new restrictions might be because of Pakistan’s decision to close the Nato supply route.PIA Spokesman Syed Sultan Hassan, while talking to this scribe, said, “We are in negotiations with TSA as we have already sought one-month time from administration on the issue.” He refuted the impression that restriction was in reaction to the Nato supplies closure, saying, “The US is super power and just using her discretionary powers.”He said the decision, which was scheduled to be implemented on April 22, would not only disturbed PIA’s passengers but also increase the operational cost, adding that the PIA would lose the market share, as passengers would opt to other airlines.

Source: The Nation

That might be difficult considering PIA only have 2 777LRs in their fleet, which are currently also used on routes other then YYZ.

Have they started extra checking of US-bound PIA flights at Manchester Airport?

Or has PIA managed to satisfy US authorities to prevent longer duration extra checking of flights at Manchester Airport?

Seems PIA has managed to convince US authorities otherwise media would have reported implementation of lengthy checking process at Manchester Airport.

Abbas