Emirates Airline plans to step into Pakistan’s aviation market, as the UAE’s national flag carrier is seriously considering to operate on the country’s domestic routes.
“There are talks on a government to government level and as soon as we get the go ahead, Emirates will start serving Pakistan’s domestic air passengers,” said Jabr Al Azeeby, Country Manager Pakistan Emirates Airline in a recent interview.
He said that Pakistan was a huge market and the aviation sector was growing each passing day, opening up new opportunities.
If it is true, then on the up side, better air travel service for us.
But on the down side, further decline of PIA and possibly of Shaheen and Airblue.
Most definitely shouldn't be allowed.
Just because UAE only has 2 main airports, doesn't mean EK can go around invading other countries space. Soon you'll be seeing EK flying domestic in Europe, the USA, and Australia.
Already they're damaging our aviation sector with their 5+ flights a day, and now this? The CAA better put their foot down, or else you can wave goodbye to PIA, Shaheen, and airblue. I was so pleased seeing improvement in PIA and the rapid growth of the other two airlines, it made me proud that even in our aviation sector our own airlines are doing extremely well, expanding rapidly. Seeing this QR and EY will demand domestic flights, then you'll have TK and TG too, as well as SV and WY. It seems this is no longer a Pakistani aviation sector, but more of an 'all you can eat buffet' for international airlines.
PIA, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Lufthansa, BA, Turkish, American, AirBerlin, Thai, Air France, Delta, Korean, Qantas, and many more.
Maybe an airline registered in Pakistan with Emirates financial support/investment with a fleet of modern narrow-body jets also registered in Pakistan.
Foreign investment can boost standard of domestic air travel in Pakistan.
Abbas Ali wrote:Maybe an airline registered in Pakistan with Emirates financial support/investment with a fleet of modern narrow-body jets also registered in Pakistan.
Foreign investment can boost standard of domestic air travel in Pakistan.
Abbas
I somehow agree with Abbas Bhai. Recently KSA also allowed QR to setup Maha Airways an entire new company along with their own fleet.
This will definitely increase the Aviation standards in Pakistan due to more healthy competition among the operators.
Foreign airlines should never be allowed to operate domestically in the name of raising aviation standards. If they do it will be demise for local aviation companies. Airlines in America operate 30+ years old MD-80s on domestic flights. There nobody talks about raising aviation standards. The thing is domestic market should only belong to Pakistani Airlines.
Emirates denial is confirmation that they are going to do this or were looking at it and talks may have failed or are still on, all airlines do this when their plans are leaked out by some unscrupulos element.
As Abbas said its likely to be an airline setup with EK support, why dont they just take over Airblue, hope so they do.
I dont think Thai will ever demand any such thing, but Air Asia could come here with this development and an interested local investor.
Saudi have refused Al Maha domestic operation permit, the aircraft are flying on QR routes and gradually being repainted in their livery, is what seems to be happening.
CAA Should get their act up & tell their counterparts in Aviation Ministry not to let this happen, it'll be like "Shooting yourself with a shotgun"... PIA is growing slowly & steady, i agree with Sherry that "Its a All Eat Buffett" for Airlines out in Pakistan.. We should let our Domestic Air Travel Grow, Give Shaheen & Airblue chance to come out with a Improved Product- Not just allow EK to operate on Domestic Sector where PIA still has sufficient Load...
Unless Mian Sahab & his Soo called "Hariri" Personal Pilot thinks its better for their own good then looking at National Interest!
I really fail to understand the opposition to the proposal. Allowing Emirates to operate domestic flights in Pakistan (which I doubt will happen) is only a positive thing in my opinion. People will have more choice and PIA and the rest will either have to up their game, improve their product or fold. What difference is Emirates investing in aviation sector to Telenor (Norway) investing in Telecom sector? Basically we just want PIA to have a monoply just like PTCL used to have one fifteen years ago. Opening up Telecom sector resulted in a huge benifit for people and so would this step be.
Personally PIA, Airblue and Shaheen are private companies that should compete with any new entrant in aviation field. Why should tax payers subsidise one company (PIA) and not others (Shaheen and Airblue)
and this is my question, why is it not the same? how is aviation industry different then automotive, telecom or banking sector? Would we say stop Honda opening up a car factory in Pakistan to save a local manufacturer? This whole argument is flawed. Why do tax payer have to throw billions of rupees every month to subsidise a service used by say 5% elite?
All of us born in the 70s know full well the state of Pakistani banks or telcom sector before it was opened up. Monopolies resulted in terrible customer service and don't give a damn attitude. This attitude still prevails in PIA. Why should this be tolerated let alone subsidised by public money?
So this one line answer 'it is different' is simply not good enough unfortunately.
