PIA to Introduce 'Premium Service' With Airbus A330 on August 14

[GEnx]

According to ARY News channel, PIA management has decided to operate three SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330s as dry leased aircraft. One of these aircraft is currently performing PIA Premier flights as wet leased aircraft.

Hope they end this PIA Premier brand and paint all three A330s in standard PIA livery sported by other aircraft of the airline and make it airline's standard service under single/standard brand i.e. PIA with airline's Boeing 777 fleet also offering same standard of service in coming months with phase-wise/gradual modernisation of Boeing 777s' passenger cabins.

Abbas

Meanwhile, i am praying that these A330s are leased only as a temporary arrangement till the B787s arrive (if they are really coming). Else, i have no issues with the A330. It can be even better than the 787 for PIA as a lower cost aircraft, that is sufficiently efficient on most of the routes of PIA. But, it seems PIA will definitely have to go for a Boeing aircraft instead of those pre-ordered B77Ws. In that case, having A330s, 787s and 777s, all at the same time would be disastrous for PIA. Aircraft types should be minimum for small fleet airlnes like PIA. I think in future, 787-8 and 787-9 can definitely replace 777s on long haul flights. Also, being smaller aircrafts, will enable the airline to increase frequency. B787-10 can do London, Manchester as well as hajj,umrah flghts as it's range is similar to that of the A330-300. While, A321neoLr can do Frankfurt, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford with better frequencies. I think PIA should try to go with a single narrow body and a single wide body aircraft type only, and have large fleets of particular aircraft types.

[CoyBoy]

If I'm not mistaken 787-10 is a 777-200 replacement, so its bigger than A330-300 and with greater range, did you mean 787-9?

[inducedrag]

Is PIA finishing this service from winter schedule??????

[uzairali]

If I'm not mistaken 787-10 is a 777-200 replacement, so its bigger than A330-300 and with greater range, did you mean 787-9?

789 and 772 can both do 300ish seats.

Problem of pia is it does 3-3-3 on 772 unlike other airlines which as a result push seats to almost 400. 3-4-3

[CoyBoy]

Is PIA finishing this service from winter schedule??????

What makes you question, ?any rumors doing rounds.

[Abbas Ali]

PIA has invited bids to buy large quantity of ear headsets with PIA Premier logo for Business and Economy Class of Airbus A330 aircraft.

http://www.piac.com.pk/cms/tenders/6381 ... 0A-330.pdf

http://www.piac.com.pk/cms/tenders/6380 ... 0A-330.pdf

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Premier service expected to suffer loss of over one billion rupees, according to newspaper reports.

The financial aspect of PIA decision to wet lease SriLankan Airbus A330-300 for PIA Premier service was also criticised in Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on October 25.

Abbas

[mohsin habib]

When is the next a330 arriving ? and will it be again used for this "premier service" ?

[Pakistan-1]

PIA Premier service expected to suffer loss of over one billion rupees, according to newspaper reports.

The financial aspect of PIA decision to wet lease SriLankan Airbus A330-300 for PIA Premier service was also criticised in Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on October 25.

Abbas

Can I have the source for that report?

[Abbas Ali]

^ The report is in Urdu on following link:

http://www.express.com.pk/images/NP_LHE ... 1395-2.gif

Abbas

[uzairali]

;How can Premier service lose $10 million dollars, just by wet leasing one plane?

[Abdulrafeysiddiqui]

adding furthur more, and operating almost full

[Sherry3002]

I'm still very, very much against the PIA Premier idea as a whole.

PIA should try to revamp their entire fleet and should've begun with their 777s. They could've refurbished AP-BID and assigned it just the ISB/LHE-LHR routes. What's this absurd idea of wet-leasing an expensive A330 that doesn't even bear Pak registration (with a horrible paint job might I add) and flying it to LHR, the main destination for PIA. What about those unlucky pax who aren't able to fly to LHR on Saturday for example, when PIA often operates a regular 777 to LHR.
What PIA should've done was revamp AP-BID, BHV and BHW one by one, and assign BHV to operate PK757, BID to 785 and BHW to 787. I feel this is just a way to break PIA up while not letting the dumb employees know, except what good is breaking up an airline with wet-leased planes? Might as well file for bankruptcy and start from scratch.

Not the right thing to do, we should be focusing on inducting new 787s with revamped interiors and fixing our 777s, while phasing out our A310s. The ATRs and 320s are fine imo. Please, someone tell me PIA plans on shutting down this Premier service with wet-leased planes ASAP, and that this was just a way of attracting lost pax. Tell me the 777s will be the same standard as the rest of the fleet. Or at least do what Abbas says and paint it in normal PIA livery, dry-lease it, keep Pakistani crew and brand it as normal PIA.

[Abbas Ali]

Request For Proposal for Provision of Limousine, Meet & Assist and Porter Service at London Heathrow Airport

Required List of Services

Pakistan International Airlines operate 10 schedule flights per week. Following three services will be required for these both on Arrivals and Departures.

1. Meet and Assist

Delivery of a high quality, customer focused Meet and Assist (MAA) service that offers a personal guide through all the airport processes. The service will follow conventional Arrivals, Departures and Connections processes through terminal buildings and airport campus. Every MAA host will be trained by the Supplier to a high level of personal customer service, with an excellent knowledge of Heathrow. The role will typically include, but not limited to, meeting the passenger at the pre-arrange point, escorting them through their Heathrow journey while offering information and advice, assisting with automated processes, baggage and free-to-use services, as well as informing passengers of appropriate rules and policies relating to airport procedures. MAA hosts should be multilingual and able to deliver high quality passenger interactions to multi-national and multi-cultural customers. All MAA staff is to be dressed in a uniform.

2. Bag Porters

Bag Porters involves delivery of a pre-booked personal baggage porter service centered around the departures forecourts and arrivals baggage reclaim halls. The role will typically include, but not limited to, loading of baggage onto the trolleys or Guest trucks, safely pushing baggage to the appropriate check-in desk or pick up point. If required the porter is to offer information and advice, giving directions and informing passengers of appropriate rules and policies relating to airport procedures. All porters are to be dressed in a uniform.

3. Chauffeur Services:

Chauffer Services are required to transport arriving passengers to their final destination and our departing passengers from the agreed collection point to London Heathrow Airport. The airline intends to provide the service to premier class customers to all destinations within a 25 mile radius from Heathrow Airport.

Arrival experience includes:

• You will be met by a Concierge Agent from the aircraft gate (Head of Jet Bridge)
• Agent to liaise the entire journey of the premier passenger from gate to porter and chauffeur to ensure smoothly going through the Heathrow airport formalities.
• Assistance provided for any visas or landing card requirements.
• Assisted through fast-track immigration and customs process.
• Bag Porters be placed in the baggage hall to collect the baggage from baggage belt to trolley, push and load the bags into the car provided.

Departure experience includes:

• You will met by a Concierge Agent on arrival at the airport (liaise with chauffeur)
• Ensure porters are in place to collect luggage and transfer to check-in
• Meet and Assist agent will escort and assist with all check in processes.
• Assisted through all check-in and security processes.
• Assisted through Fast-track area and Security process.
• Escort to departure lounge/VIP lounge if applicable and to the aircraft gate when ready to board.

Chauffeur Experience

Arrival Experience

• Premier Passenger will be greeted by a friendly chauffer at the rear of the terminal building.
• Ensure all Luggage bags are securely placed in the vehicle
• Ensure all passengers enter the vehicle safely and securely including minors.
• Confirm destination within 25 miles.
• Create a relaxed and friendly environment throughout the journey.
• Assist with disembarkation of the vehicle at the final destination along with luggage etc.

Arrival Experience

• Premier Passenger will be greeted by a friendly chauffer at the rear of the terminal building.
• Ensure all Luggage bags are securely placed in the vehicle
• Ensure all passengers enter the vehicle safely and securely including minors.
• Confirm destination within 25 miles.
• Create a relaxed and friendly environment throughout the journey.
• Assist with disembarkation of the vehicle at the final destination along with luggage etc.

Departure Experience

• Premier Passenger will be greeted by a friendly chauffer at the agreed pick up or house door.
• Ensure all Luggage bags are securely placed in the vehicle
• Ensure all passengers enter the vehicle safely and securely including minors.
• Create a relaxed and friendly environment throughout the journey.
• Coordinate with Meet & Assist agent and porter about their time of arrival at terminal 3 forecourt.
• On arrival at airport, hand over the Premier Passenger to Meet & Assist agent and porter for their onward journey into Heathrow.

Source: PIA

Abbas

[uzairali]

PIA to induct second A330 aircraft in Premier Service next month

September 10, 2016

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has planned to induct second A 330 aircraft in its Premier Service on London route during next month, official sources said.

All flights of London will be operated on airbus A330 with the Premier Service. The third Airbus is being planned to enroll in the Premier fleet in February 2017. While the PIA would also be looking for the service expansion to other suggested international routes like Toronto New York Birmingham and Beijing.

At present, sources claims that the Premier Service flights from Islamabad to London are being operated on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday while from Lahore to London on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Commenting on the return schedule they said the flights operated from London to Islamabad on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday whereas from London to Lahore on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The aircraft is equipped with 38 business and 269 economy class seats LCD screens and flight entertainment with 250 channels and flat bed service for business passengers.

In addition, a complimentary limousine service is also being extended to the business class passengers at the Heathrow Airport for their destinations within a radius of 25 kilometers.

Currently the sources said the PIA fleet consisted of 38 aircraft including 11 A 320 Airbuses, five A 310 Airbuses, 11 Boeing 777, six ATR 42 and five ATR 72. Efforts are underway to further expand the fleet and hopefully its strength will reach 42 during the current financial year, they said.

Source: businessplustv.pk

October is gone and the a333 are still being used by Sri lankan. So is the deal off? So just wet lease for now?

It seems no one has any idea where PIA is heading. All of a sudden PIA adds a333 (instead of a332/b788 as replacement for a310s). Then there is news that b777 order being switched to b787. Now there is news that PIA negotiating with airbus.