PIA, Turkish Air cooperation a step towards Star Alliance membership

Alliance with Turkish Airlines may act as a step for PIA towards becoming member of Star Alliance, the largest airline grouping in the World, stated by PIA Spokesman. He termed the recent statements by leaders of the employees associations of PIA published in the newspapers as misleading. According to PIA spokesperson, these associations are giving statements without understanding the actual facts of the record of discussion between the two airlines.
In fact there has been no agreement but a record of discussion between PIA and Turkish Airline. Agreement will only be reached after the relevant authorities of both the countries validate the same. It was because of the unequivocal statements by representatives of the employees associations that MD PIA calls all their leaders for a briefing on the merits of the proposed commercial agreement. Managing Director PIA Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon gave a detailed briefing to the representatives of associations and provided elaborate details to remove their fears about the expected PIA-Turkish Joint Venture.
Both sides discussed the issues in detail and it was mutually decided that the representatives will be provided with details about the joint venture. The said meeting was mutually agreed to be held for the next week. He said the basic purpose was to brief the associations and not to do any bargaining and therefore, there is nothing like inconclusive meeting as spelled out in the media. He further said that the assumptions behind this joint venture are based on facts and marketing intelligence data from the most reliable tool (MIDT) being used by airlines all over the world.
He informed that the leaders of employees association had categorically stated that they will not go to the press till next meeting scheduled for January 18, 2011. It is a pity that despite briefing them on every aspect of the proposed alliance and addressing all their concerns, yet they repeated the same concocted stories which are far from facts.
He said that PIA's revenues will not be affected by this agreement rather it will be enhanced as according to this alliance, PIA will be selling on the destinations in Africa, South America, Europe and USA where PIA is not operating till now.
It is also worth mentioning that PIA offices at all current destinations will not only be maintained but offices at additional stations will be opened to provide seamless services to PIA Passengers. It is also worth mentioning that due to limited fleet size, PIA provides air transport only upto 40 international destinations. However, this Joint Venture Commercial Alliance with Turkish Airlines, PIA will be able to access new destinations across the globe as Turkish Airlines serves 167 destinations including 128 international. It is also a member of the prestigious Star Alliance network since 1st April 2008.
He elaborated that under the proposed agreement PIA would operate daily flights from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad upto Istanbul and onward to over 128 international destinations under a code share arrangement with Turkish Airlines. PIA will continue operating to USA, UK, France, Norway, Denmark and other European stations directly.
Similarly, Turkish Airlines while discontinuing their flights to Dhaka will transfer its passengers to PIA for Dhaka (DAC), Colombo (CMB) and Kathmandu (KTM) and other Eastern destinations. This collaboration would result in some adjustments in network by PK and TK.
He also stated that through this arrangement PIA will be able to offer daily connectivity to the world. Istanbul is a tourist city and Pakistani passengers would be offered special tour packages in case they plan to take an en-route stop over. It may be noted here that all passengers travelling with onward visa can acquire entry visa on arrival at Istanbul. This facility is not available at any other en-route point on PIA network.
The spokesperson added that terming the agreement a death warrant for PIA by some, is the result of ignorance and lack of understanding on part of them, especially, pertaining to the strides in global aviation where airlines are joining hands to enhance profitability by reducing cost. PIA is following suit which will result in increasing PIA's network tremendously without incurring and additional cost beside enhancing revenue generation and providing more frequencies to over 130 destinations in the world.-PR