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Why only a one time permission for 12 Direct flight to the United States is being considered a break though for PIA? GVS Special Report compiled by its Editorial Team explains. Must Read for students of Media, International Relations and politics.
GVS Special Report
The United States Department of Transport, Aviation and Transport Security Administration (TSA) have allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate direct flights to the US airports for the first time in history. This is considered a major breakthrough for PIA.
The move came after the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik, wrote to the US government, through the US embassy in Islamabad, seeking permission to operate PIA special flights to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in the US.
According to a communique by the US Department of Transportation, PIA will be allowed to operate 12 round-trip or 24 one-way passenger or cargo flights. The permission will expire on April 29, 2021.
Why 12 US flights is breakthrough for PIA?
On the face of it these are just 12 round trip flights to be completed within the next 12 months. In practice these will be completed within the next few weeks. And this permission by the US Dept of Transport has been granted in the peculiar circumstances of a pandemic so a natural question arises: why it has created such a jubilant mood in PIA; why it is considered a break through?
The answer lies in the history. PIA, since its inception on October 29, 1946, Karachi-Pakistan, has never been allowed to operate direct flights from Pakistan to the USA. Till 1990’s PIA never had the long haul planes that could fly directly from Pakistani airports, over the European land route and the Atlantic Ocean, to land at the US airports.
So while PIA had the landing rights, from 1950’s and 1960’s, in all major US airports in New York, Chicago and Dallas it simply did not have the capacity. Its flights kept on disembarking in the UK and European destinations and then taking off for New York, Chicago and Dallas.
By the end 1990’s and the beginning of 21st century, PIA started to plan acquisition of long haul planes and contemplating the direct flights to the US destinations. However then came the security concerns created by 9/11 – when Saudi and Egyptian origin terrorists, of Al Qaeda, flew suicide aircraft into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. This created a totally new security environment under Homeland Security Dept and PIA found it difficult to negotiate a solution.
The special permission for 12 flights has come after a careful scrutiny by Transport Security Administration (TSA) that sent teams to Pakistan to analyse the security protocols at Pakistani airports, at the point of embarkation. TSA teams studied PIA and ASF (Airport Security Force) manuals, watched their operations and studied past video recordings from CCTV cameras. TSA is a specialised agency that was created by the US Congress after the terrorism of 9/11. It is tasked to defend the lives of US public travelling internally and externally. Its satisfaction with Pakistan’s security arrangements and records has now established grounds for PIA seeking regular flights into the US airports.
Why Direct Flights to US important for PIA?
Direct flights to the US destinations could add to PIA’s business potential in a highly competitive market. Currently the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha based airlines (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar) pick up passengers from the Pakistani airports at extremely competitive rates and then charge luxurious prices for direct flights into the US destinations.
However these GCC based airlines operate through their above mentioned hubs and passengers first spend 3-4 hours in flight time from Pakistani airports to these hubs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha) and then spend another 2-3 hours or more changing planes via hubs before the 14-16 hours long US bound flight could even originate.
PIA flying direct to the US airports in New York, Chicago and Dallas will transform business for PIA. In anticipation of this move, PIA’s current management, under CEO Arshad Malik, has fought a difficult political battle to fix its “In Flight Entertainment System” (IFE) at most economical costs. A cash strapped PIA was without IFE systems for the past five years or so- such systems are a must to attract passengers for long haul trans-Atlantic flights.
PIA kept Negotiating Direct Flight to the US
After 9/11, PIA kept negotiating with US authorities to seek permission for direct flights. These negotiations started as early as in 2003-2005 period when Ahmed Saeed was still the PIA MD and these continued in one way or the other in subsequent administrations.
At one point in 2012, when Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was MD PIA, it looked almost possible. However Rao Qamar Suleman abruptly left because of his health problems and in the ensuing months the security situation in Pakistan – in Karachi, in FATA and Baluchistan – deteriorated to such an extent that for PIA to convince the US Transportation Administration (TSA) was next to impossible.
The current PIA CEO, Arshad Malik, had thus pointed out in his letter that the PIA held a valid Foreign Air Carrier Permit and had submitted its application to the US Department of Transportation for fresh security authority through its legal representatives on Feb 7.
Read More: Performance of PIA vs other airlines across the world during Corona
PIA US Flights: Extensive backchannel diplomacy
Abdullah H. Khan, PIA’s spokesperson, spoke to GVS and explained the development. “It will be the first occasion whereby PIA has been allowed to operate non-stop across the Atlantic and its welcoming news to all ears. An authorization letter has been issued by the Department of Transport with clearance from the US Department of Transportation as Special Permission,” he said.
CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik had earlier formally requested US Authorities for operating repatriation flights directly to the US. If the USA allows PIA to operate direct flights it would help Pakistan not only save money but also time.
It is learnt by GVS that this US permission came after exhaustive backchannel work by the PIA management, involving the highest levels of the Government, Foreign Offices, and Diplomatic Missions and shows the warming relationship between Trump administration and Imran Khan-led Pakistani government. The permission also highlights that US government support in coming to the aid of stranded Pakistani citizens in the US in the time of need.
It is worth recalling that the PIA had stopped its operations to the US in October 2017. Earlier, PIA used to operate flights to the USA with a mandatory stopover on TSA cleared airports in UK or Europe for security clearance. This is the first time that PIA has been allowed to operate direct flights. The direct flight authorization comes after a series of Transportation Security Administration team visits to Pakistan examining preparedness of the country’s airports and overall airline’s security apparatus and procedures – including the protocols and functioning of Airport Security Force (ASF)
A US Transportation Security Administration team, (TSA) which visited Islamabad in March, had expressed confidence that the minor recommendations made by them would be implemented on an urgent basis by the Pakistani authorities before it completed its report in connection with the start of direct flights to the US. But still it was not clear ‘whether the USA will allow PIA or not’.
Secretary of the Aviation Division Hassan Nasir Jamy along with senior officials from the Aviation Division, Civil Aviation Authority, Airport Security Force, and the PIA had met the five-member US delegation in Islamabad and discussed matters related to aviation and security arrangements.
Air Marshal Arshad Malik thanks PM Khan
CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan whose personal interest was fundamental in getting this coordination done and also the Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and officials of Foreign Ministry in making this extraordinary feat possible.
The CEO has reportedly said the PIA, at this stage, had offered its services to airlift stranded citizens on a non-revenue basis, to whom tickets would not be sold. Additionally, all security and safety protocols would be strictly followed.
PIA struggling to survive
PIA, according to industry and aviation analysts, is facing serious existential crisis. It has badly suffered in the past three decades because of country’s politics where PIA was used to create jobs on political considerations, increasing competition from Gulf based regional and international airlines and introduction of open skies policies in Pakistan without careful scrutiny of implications. One important factor contributing to PIA’s woes is organisation’s internal politics where several unions are lined with political parties on the outside – making it difficult for any management to deliver.
CEO, Arshad Malik, who has been brought by the PM Imran Khan on recommendations of the military chief, to turn around the organisation himself had been a target of organisational politics inside PIA. And he has barely survived their moves.
Recently a PIA Audit report detected a number of irregularities, non-recoveries, violation of rules & regulations inside PIA but surprisingly went on to recommend removal of PIA’s MD on the allegations that his appointment is against rules. This later because a court case on the behest of strong union linked element inside PIA supported by many on the outside in political and legal community.
Read More: Is PIA really going to resume International Flight Operation from April 4?
However sources inside PIA reveal that strong lobbies outside and PIA Unions from the inside were joining hands to remove the new CEO – the way previous one, Dr. Musharaf Rasul, was thrown out on technicalities.
Arshad Malik, and his team, had taken on the unions head-on and removed hundreds of PIA employees who were holding fake degrees. Under his management, in the last one year, PIA has increased its revenues by 41%. National Airline is under debts of more than Rs. 400 billion (almost Rs. 460 billion plus) and no business entity is prepared to invest in PIA. Airline also finds it difficult to raise finances from the market. And when it succeeds as it recently did through Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Dubai it has to pay a much higher markup.
Read More: PIA suspends flight operations to Qatar amid coronavirus fear
Analysts believe that the PIA under the leadership of CEO Malik and Prime Minister Khan can manage to survive and turn around its fortunes. However, it will be a tough battle and the CEO and his team would have to be well-aware of the lobbies working against them in and outside the PIA. Once these internal ‘Trojan horses’ will be managed, only then PIA will be able to focus on its external competition.
This GVS special report was compiled by Editor, with inputs and assistance from Farah Adeed and Fahad Taherani in the editorial team.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/...t-ever-direct-flights-under-ceo-arshad-malik/
GVS Special Report
The United States Department of Transport, Aviation and Transport Security Administration (TSA) have allowed the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to operate direct flights to the US airports for the first time in history. This is considered a major breakthrough for PIA.
The move came after the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik, wrote to the US government, through the US embassy in Islamabad, seeking permission to operate PIA special flights to repatriate Pakistanis stranded in the US.
According to a communique by the US Department of Transportation, PIA will be allowed to operate 12 round-trip or 24 one-way passenger or cargo flights. The permission will expire on April 29, 2021.
Why 12 US flights is breakthrough for PIA?
On the face of it these are just 12 round trip flights to be completed within the next 12 months. In practice these will be completed within the next few weeks. And this permission by the US Dept of Transport has been granted in the peculiar circumstances of a pandemic so a natural question arises: why it has created such a jubilant mood in PIA; why it is considered a break through?
The answer lies in the history. PIA, since its inception on October 29, 1946, Karachi-Pakistan, has never been allowed to operate direct flights from Pakistan to the USA. Till 1990’s PIA never had the long haul planes that could fly directly from Pakistani airports, over the European land route and the Atlantic Ocean, to land at the US airports.
So while PIA had the landing rights, from 1950’s and 1960’s, in all major US airports in New York, Chicago and Dallas it simply did not have the capacity. Its flights kept on disembarking in the UK and European destinations and then taking off for New York, Chicago and Dallas.
By the end 1990’s and the beginning of 21st century, PIA started to plan acquisition of long haul planes and contemplating the direct flights to the US destinations. However then came the security concerns created by 9/11 – when Saudi and Egyptian origin terrorists, of Al Qaeda, flew suicide aircraft into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. This created a totally new security environment under Homeland Security Dept and PIA found it difficult to negotiate a solution.
The special permission for 12 flights has come after a careful scrutiny by Transport Security Administration (TSA) that sent teams to Pakistan to analyse the security protocols at Pakistani airports, at the point of embarkation. TSA teams studied PIA and ASF (Airport Security Force) manuals, watched their operations and studied past video recordings from CCTV cameras. TSA is a specialised agency that was created by the US Congress after the terrorism of 9/11. It is tasked to defend the lives of US public travelling internally and externally. Its satisfaction with Pakistan’s security arrangements and records has now established grounds for PIA seeking regular flights into the US airports.
Why Direct Flights to US important for PIA?
Direct flights to the US destinations could add to PIA’s business potential in a highly competitive market. Currently the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha based airlines (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar) pick up passengers from the Pakistani airports at extremely competitive rates and then charge luxurious prices for direct flights into the US destinations.
However these GCC based airlines operate through their above mentioned hubs and passengers first spend 3-4 hours in flight time from Pakistani airports to these hubs (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha) and then spend another 2-3 hours or more changing planes via hubs before the 14-16 hours long US bound flight could even originate.
PIA flying direct to the US airports in New York, Chicago and Dallas will transform business for PIA. In anticipation of this move, PIA’s current management, under CEO Arshad Malik, has fought a difficult political battle to fix its “In Flight Entertainment System” (IFE) at most economical costs. A cash strapped PIA was without IFE systems for the past five years or so- such systems are a must to attract passengers for long haul trans-Atlantic flights.
PIA kept Negotiating Direct Flight to the US
After 9/11, PIA kept negotiating with US authorities to seek permission for direct flights. These negotiations started as early as in 2003-2005 period when Ahmed Saeed was still the PIA MD and these continued in one way or the other in subsequent administrations.
At one point in 2012, when Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was MD PIA, it looked almost possible. However Rao Qamar Suleman abruptly left because of his health problems and in the ensuing months the security situation in Pakistan – in Karachi, in FATA and Baluchistan – deteriorated to such an extent that for PIA to convince the US Transportation Administration (TSA) was next to impossible.
The current PIA CEO, Arshad Malik, had thus pointed out in his letter that the PIA held a valid Foreign Air Carrier Permit and had submitted its application to the US Department of Transportation for fresh security authority through its legal representatives on Feb 7.
Read More: Performance of PIA vs other airlines across the world during Corona
PIA US Flights: Extensive backchannel diplomacy
Abdullah H. Khan, PIA’s spokesperson, spoke to GVS and explained the development. “It will be the first occasion whereby PIA has been allowed to operate non-stop across the Atlantic and its welcoming news to all ears. An authorization letter has been issued by the Department of Transport with clearance from the US Department of Transportation as Special Permission,” he said.
CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik had earlier formally requested US Authorities for operating repatriation flights directly to the US. If the USA allows PIA to operate direct flights it would help Pakistan not only save money but also time.
It is learnt by GVS that this US permission came after exhaustive backchannel work by the PIA management, involving the highest levels of the Government, Foreign Offices, and Diplomatic Missions and shows the warming relationship between Trump administration and Imran Khan-led Pakistani government. The permission also highlights that US government support in coming to the aid of stranded Pakistani citizens in the US in the time of need.
It is worth recalling that the PIA had stopped its operations to the US in October 2017. Earlier, PIA used to operate flights to the USA with a mandatory stopover on TSA cleared airports in UK or Europe for security clearance. This is the first time that PIA has been allowed to operate direct flights. The direct flight authorization comes after a series of Transportation Security Administration team visits to Pakistan examining preparedness of the country’s airports and overall airline’s security apparatus and procedures – including the protocols and functioning of Airport Security Force (ASF)
A US Transportation Security Administration team, (TSA) which visited Islamabad in March, had expressed confidence that the minor recommendations made by them would be implemented on an urgent basis by the Pakistani authorities before it completed its report in connection with the start of direct flights to the US. But still it was not clear ‘whether the USA will allow PIA or not’.
Secretary of the Aviation Division Hassan Nasir Jamy along with senior officials from the Aviation Division, Civil Aviation Authority, Airport Security Force, and the PIA had met the five-member US delegation in Islamabad and discussed matters related to aviation and security arrangements.
Air Marshal Arshad Malik thanks PM Khan
CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan whose personal interest was fundamental in getting this coordination done and also the Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan and officials of Foreign Ministry in making this extraordinary feat possible.
The CEO has reportedly said the PIA, at this stage, had offered its services to airlift stranded citizens on a non-revenue basis, to whom tickets would not be sold. Additionally, all security and safety protocols would be strictly followed.
PIA struggling to survive
PIA, according to industry and aviation analysts, is facing serious existential crisis. It has badly suffered in the past three decades because of country’s politics where PIA was used to create jobs on political considerations, increasing competition from Gulf based regional and international airlines and introduction of open skies policies in Pakistan without careful scrutiny of implications. One important factor contributing to PIA’s woes is organisation’s internal politics where several unions are lined with political parties on the outside – making it difficult for any management to deliver.
CEO, Arshad Malik, who has been brought by the PM Imran Khan on recommendations of the military chief, to turn around the organisation himself had been a target of organisational politics inside PIA. And he has barely survived their moves.
Recently a PIA Audit report detected a number of irregularities, non-recoveries, violation of rules & regulations inside PIA but surprisingly went on to recommend removal of PIA’s MD on the allegations that his appointment is against rules. This later because a court case on the behest of strong union linked element inside PIA supported by many on the outside in political and legal community.
Read More: Is PIA really going to resume International Flight Operation from April 4?
However sources inside PIA reveal that strong lobbies outside and PIA Unions from the inside were joining hands to remove the new CEO – the way previous one, Dr. Musharaf Rasul, was thrown out on technicalities.
Arshad Malik, and his team, had taken on the unions head-on and removed hundreds of PIA employees who were holding fake degrees. Under his management, in the last one year, PIA has increased its revenues by 41%. National Airline is under debts of more than Rs. 400 billion (almost Rs. 460 billion plus) and no business entity is prepared to invest in PIA. Airline also finds it difficult to raise finances from the market. And when it succeeds as it recently did through Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Dubai it has to pay a much higher markup.
Read More: PIA suspends flight operations to Qatar amid coronavirus fear
Analysts believe that the PIA under the leadership of CEO Malik and Prime Minister Khan can manage to survive and turn around its fortunes. However, it will be a tough battle and the CEO and his team would have to be well-aware of the lobbies working against them in and outside the PIA. Once these internal ‘Trojan horses’ will be managed, only then PIA will be able to focus on its external competition.
This GVS special report was compiled by Editor, with inputs and assistance from Farah Adeed and Fahad Taherani in the editorial team.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/...t-ever-direct-flights-under-ceo-arshad-malik/
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