PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

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Abbas Ali
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by Abbas Ali »

According to news sources, PIA has postponed plan to start flights between Lahore and Sydney on April 22. Australian authorities want to review security arrangements at airports of Lahore and Karachi.

April 22 PIA inaugural Lahore to Sydney Boeing 777 flight PK9806 is appearing as cancelled on Sydney Airport website https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/.

The flight was scheduled to depart from Lahore at 7:15 PM on April 22 and arrive in Sydney at 12:45 PM on April 23.

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Source: sydneyairport.com.au

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Source: sydneyairport.com.au

flightradar24.com also showing April 22 PIA inaugural Lahore to Sydney flight PK9806 as cancelled.

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Source: flightradar24.com

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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by Abbas Ali »

PIA’s first flight to Sydney deferred for few days

Lahore: April 21 , 2022 -
The maiden Pakistani flight from Lahore to Sydney to be operated by PIA has been deferred for few days on the advise of the Australian Department of Home Affairs as they want to reassess the prevailing security situation of the country and review the security apparatus and procedures adopted at Pakistani airports.

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PIA was set to operate its first ever direct flight between Pakistan and Australia on April 22, 2022, initially planning to operate one weekly flight on this route. There was strong demand by the Pakistani diaspora residing in Australia who wanted direct flights specially travelling with families and forced to take 35 hours long journey via transiting at Middle Eastern points. With PIA’s direct flights the travel duration with total journey lasted only 12.5 hours.

Necessary permissions were obtained from Australian Civil Aviation Authority and flights were mounted in the system and drew healthy loads. However in a last moment development, the Australian Department of Home Affairs, consequent to the detailed assessment of the security protocols adopted at Karachi and Lahore Airports, have sought for more time and have advised PIA to cancel its first two flights, till the time their review is complete.

Speaking on the occasion, the PIA spokesperson confirmed the news, saying that it is an unfortunate development, however in view of our desires for a long term sustainable operations to Australia, PIA will comply with all the regulations and security reviews. Pakistani High Commission in Australia is in constant contact with the concerned authorities for amicable and expeditious resolution of the matter and have made themselves available for any assistance in this regard. He said the first two flights have been deferred to a later date and all the passengers will be re-accommodated on those flights. PIA Call Centre has already started informing the passengers about the change. He further said that all those customers who intend to travel before that can get their tickets refunded without any charge.

Source: PIA Press Release
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baberblues
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by baberblues »

Was the home affairs department of Australia asleep all this time? This should have been done before the flight inauguration.
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by baberblues »

I wonder if there has been any update on this so far, it is a real shame that this could not go ahead.
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by ammad »

baberblues wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:38 pm Was the home affairs department of Australia asleep all this time? This should have been done before the flight inauguration.
One other Opinion is that: Why did PIA sold tickets and advertise the route for specific dates for the particular flights when they don't have required clearance to operate the flight in hand?

Does Australia revoke the clearance or did they never got the paper work done before the inaugural flight?
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by baberblues »

ammad wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 12:49 am
baberblues wrote: Thu Apr 21, 2022 1:38 pm Was the home affairs department of Australia asleep all this time? This should have been done before the flight inauguration.
One other Opinion is that: Why did PIA sold tickets and advertise the route for specific dates for the particular flights when they don't have required clearance to operate the flight in hand?

Does Australia revoke the clearance or did they never got the paper work done before the inaugural flight?
I was under the impression that they were initially cleared to operate the flights but the Authorities at the last minute intervened according to the recent report posted above.
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by Abbas Ali »

SriLankan Airlines operates scheduled passenger flights between Colombo and Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore.

From Colombo:

SriLankan Airlines operating daily Colombo to Melbourne non-stop flight.



SriLankan Airlines operating five weekly Colombo to Sydney non-stop flights.



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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by Mudassar »

Abbas bhai

Any update on the PIA flights?
Are they likely to start? A lot if people booked with PIA but were disappointed when dealyed.

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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by Abbas Ali »

Mudassar, no official update on Sydney flights from PIA, so far.

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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by ammad »

Chances are pretty less due to following reasons.
  • PIA don't have spare Aircraft at this point to start long haul fleet. Idea of Parking Aircraft for 30 hours just to wait for the crew rest to be completed is ridiculous.
  • After Covid restriction eases, PIA would like, and rightly so, to deploy all available Aircraft to the only cash cow route at this time, i.e. PAK-KSA-PAK.
  • Hajj operation will start by mid of June and will continue till end of July, requires Aircraft.
  • Seems like, announcement of this route was publicity stunt of out going CEO, which coincides with the expiry of the last month of his contract with the inauguration date of the route, with the hope to get extension.
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Re: PIA Starting Lahore to Sydney Flight From April 22

Post by Usman123 »

Any update on this matter
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