As Corporations and businesses clearly articulate their mission, vision and strategies; leaders are needed to guide employees toward business successes. Ever since Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon took over as Managing Director PIA; a series of steps have been taken with a continuity rectifying the decisions taken in the past, which caused considerable damage to the airline leading to financial deficiency.
Efforts are being made to turnaround the airline for the benefit of all stakeholders, its employees, shareholders and most important of all the airline's customers. The airline has reduced its losses by over 84 percent in 2009 versus 2008. 1st Quarter of 2010 was a memorable one in which PIA attained highest ever Seat Factor on both international and domestic routes in the last 20 years (1991-2010).
Seat Factor was 75.2% on Domestic Operations, 78.9% on International operations and 78.4% as a whole. The quarterly revenue of Rs 22 billion was also the highest in 2 decades. This performance was maintained in the second quarter of 2010 with the result that Seat Factor stood at a 34 year high of 76.18 percent at the end of June 2010.
In addition, the airline recorded growth of 26.3% and 11.1% in the international and the domestic sales in the first half of 2010 respectively, over past year. Total revenues increased by PKR 7.4 billion, 17.6% over the corresponding period of the last year.
During the period January-September 2010 PIA was able to record the total sales revenue of Rs 67.02 billion as compared to Rs 55.138 billion of the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 21.5% in the total sales revenue. The international sales revenue was recorded at Rs 37.399 billion as compared to Rs 31.727 billion of the equivalent period of last year with an increase of 17.9%. The domestic performance was also remarkable with Rs 28.862 billion sales revenue compared to Rs 23.411 billion of the corresponding period, a growth of 23.3%. Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon, Managing Director PIA has made it mandatory for all employees to give special emphasis to "Customer Convenience" in providing maximum hospitality to the passengers.
There is a serious misconception in the minds of many that PIA is being financially supported through Subsidies. PIA does not get any subsidy, airline's financial obligations are met through the banking system as commercial transactions. The airline has again adopted its slogan: "Great People to Fly With" simply with the aim to be among the best airlines in the world and PIA to be the passengers' airline of choice.
New destinations have also been introduced such as Barcelona and Frankfurt, non-stop flights from New York to Pakistan started for the convenience of passengers, reducing their travel time. Furthermore, twice weekly flights started from Islamabad to Leeds and Bradford, Sialkot linked to Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat, Sharjah, and London. PIA also commenced a new weekly flight to Kuala Lumpur from Lahore and Islamabad in 2010. The same year in June 2010, PIA initiated twice weekly flights to Chicago, USA via Barcelona from Pakistan.
The airline has increased frequency with an additional flight to London and is now operating four weekly flights to London. PIA is presently operating twice daily flights from Karachi to Dubai with both morning and evening departures for the convenience of the passengers. The airline is offering direct flights to Zahidan, Iran from Karachi and Quetta starting from 15th January, 2011. PIA is also planning to operate flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The flights will commence before the Cricket World Cup 2011.
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