A photo list of PIA's fleet in 2008 and a canceled Airbus 320 lease. I didn't bother adding the calendar dates in the images.
Click on images to enlarge:
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Photos of Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA) calander for the year 2008
Aviation photos of a calendar I received in 2008 representing Pakistan Airline Pilots Association (PALPA).
A photo list of PIA's fleet in 2008 and a canceled Airbus 320 lease. I didn't bother adding the calendar dates in the images.
Click on images to enlarge:
A photo list of PIA's fleet in 2008 and a canceled Airbus 320 lease. I didn't bother adding the calendar dates in the images.
Click on images to enlarge:
My model plane collection in pictures
Since I live in North America, my complete model plane collection cannot be pictured as the rest of my collection is at home in Pakistan, but the planes I have with me are photographed below:
A 1:200 scale snap-fit Airbus 300-600 of Zero-G made by hogan wings: (click on images to enlarge)
PIA Boeing 777-240ER 1:200 scale snap-fit made by skymarks:
PIA Boeing 777-240LR snap-fit model 1:200 scale made by skymarks:
Boeing 737-800 in Boeing livery 1:200 snap-fit scale made by hogan wings:
Airbus 330-200 1:400 scale metal diecast made by dragonwings:
Airbus 340-500 1:400 scale metal diecast made by dragonwings:
Dash-8 Q400 1:400 metal diecast made by giminijets:
Boeing 737-200 1:400 metal diecast in old Boeing livery made by aeroclassics:
Boeing 737-400 Westjet 1:300 scale diecast model made by Daron:
Gulf Air Boeing 767-200(ER?) 1:200 snap-fit model (brand unknown):
I also posses an additional Pakistani flag tail for my two Boeing 777s.
As seen on the 240ER:
And the 240LR:
A 1:200 scale snap-fit Airbus 300-600 of Zero-G made by hogan wings: (click on images to enlarge)
PIA Boeing 777-240ER 1:200 scale snap-fit made by skymarks:
PIA Boeing 777-240LR snap-fit model 1:200 scale made by skymarks:
Boeing 737-800 in Boeing livery 1:200 snap-fit scale made by hogan wings:
Airbus 330-200 1:400 scale metal diecast made by dragonwings:
Airbus 340-500 1:400 scale metal diecast made by dragonwings:
Dash-8 Q400 1:400 metal diecast made by giminijets:
Boeing 737-200 1:400 metal diecast in old Boeing livery made by aeroclassics:
Boeing 737-400 Westjet 1:300 scale diecast model made by Daron:
Gulf Air Boeing 767-200(ER?) 1:200 snap-fit model (brand unknown):
I also posses an additional Pakistani flag tail for my two Boeing 777s.
As seen on the 240ER:
And the 240LR:
Sunday, February 20, 2011
How PIA could possibly take advantage of American aid and modernize it's fleet
Since the American administration is trying to improve Pakistan's infrastructure through aid programs in return for getting Pakistani support for the war in Afghanistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistani government should try and take advantage of the program.
The Pakistani government could try to include PIA's fleet modernization as part of the aid package and request the Obama administration to put Boeing in direct touch with PIA officials to lease new generation Boeing 737s to PIA.
It is doubtful Boeing will put up newer planes for lease, but under the influence of the America government, they might go out of their way and strike a long-term contract with PIA.
As most readers may know, PIA's narrow body Boeing 737s are extremely outdated as they were inducted in 1985-1886.
Also what most readers may know that PIA is in no financial position to purchase newer aircraft at this stage so the best option for fleet modernization is leasing new planes on long-term contracts instead of buying them.
There were also talks with Boeing of inducting newer generation Boeing 737-800s and a Boeing artists impression was released as it is done traditionally when airlines consider newer aircraft as seen here and here.
Getting long term deals is in the best interests of PIA as a long term lease can be the equivalent of a quarter or even sometimes half the lifetime of a purchased plane.
Though PIA's Boeing 737s need modernization badly, the Airbus 310s will also need to be eventually replaced and the best alternates would be Boeing 777s or Airbus 330s.
But since Pakistan is currently in a political and economical partnership with America, it enjoys a lot of aid programs from that country, which is why the government and PIA should take advantage of the aid programs and try to seek newer Boeing substitutes for it's older planes.
The Pakistani government could try to include PIA's fleet modernization as part of the aid package and request the Obama administration to put Boeing in direct touch with PIA officials to lease new generation Boeing 737s to PIA.
It is doubtful Boeing will put up newer planes for lease, but under the influence of the America government, they might go out of their way and strike a long-term contract with PIA.
As most readers may know, PIA's narrow body Boeing 737s are extremely outdated as they were inducted in 1985-1886.
Also what most readers may know that PIA is in no financial position to purchase newer aircraft at this stage so the best option for fleet modernization is leasing new planes on long-term contracts instead of buying them.
There were also talks with Boeing of inducting newer generation Boeing 737-800s and a Boeing artists impression was released as it is done traditionally when airlines consider newer aircraft as seen here and here.
Getting long term deals is in the best interests of PIA as a long term lease can be the equivalent of a quarter or even sometimes half the lifetime of a purchased plane.
Though PIA's Boeing 737s need modernization badly, the Airbus 310s will also need to be eventually replaced and the best alternates would be Boeing 777s or Airbus 330s.
But since Pakistan is currently in a political and economical partnership with America, it enjoys a lot of aid programs from that country, which is why the government and PIA should take advantage of the aid programs and try to seek newer Boeing substitutes for it's older planes.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Modified image of AP-001
My own livery of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) VIP transport plane registered AP-001. I tried to add an Urdu script alongside the English titles but unfortunately the software I used doesn't seem to recognise non-Latin script. (click on image to enlarge)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
How PIA could possibly reduce fares on Haj operations
During Haj operations in Ramadan and Eid Ul-Adha, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) receives a large amount of passengers to Saudi Arabia.
If I am not mistaken, having a large amount of passengers per flights, makes it possible for PIA to offer lower fares to each passenger.
On the return leg however, I've read that the fares are relatively high due to much less passenger load on the return flights.
Such high fares would only discourage passengers from using PIA to fly back to Pakistan for Eid holidays or any other reason during Haj season.
A good solution would be for PIA to reduce fares is by stopping at lower density routes on it's return leg from Haj flights.
For example, PIA currently uses it's Boeing 747-300 Combis on Haj operations. On the return leg the flights is supposedly mostly empty.
On it's return leg, the airline could stop in Muscat, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi or any other nearby destination on it's route back to Pakistan. This will allow it to handle more passengers and possibly cargo in one flights, instead of sending several planes all over the Gulf region.
This method could generate more profits, not just by reducing fares, but also by having more planes to spare on domestic and other routes especially the Eid season being a high travel season in Pakistan and the Muslim world.
If I am not mistaken, having a large amount of passengers per flights, makes it possible for PIA to offer lower fares to each passenger.
On the return leg however, I've read that the fares are relatively high due to much less passenger load on the return flights.
Such high fares would only discourage passengers from using PIA to fly back to Pakistan for Eid holidays or any other reason during Haj season.
A good solution would be for PIA to reduce fares is by stopping at lower density routes on it's return leg from Haj flights.
For example, PIA currently uses it's Boeing 747-300 Combis on Haj operations. On the return leg the flights is supposedly mostly empty.
On it's return leg, the airline could stop in Muscat, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi or any other nearby destination on it's route back to Pakistan. This will allow it to handle more passengers and possibly cargo in one flights, instead of sending several planes all over the Gulf region.
This method could generate more profits, not just by reducing fares, but also by having more planes to spare on domestic and other routes especially the Eid season being a high travel season in Pakistan and the Muslim world.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Why PIA cannot make full use of it's 747s outside of hajj
I was recently having an argument with an associate who used to be an aircraft mechanic. He was very critical of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) decision to ground their 747s claiming that they were loosing more money by parking them and not flying them.
I found his reasoning to be flawed. Firstly for an airline to ground it's fully functioning planes is mostly due to lack of passengers for that airline. To use a fully functioning 747-300 with few passengers is costly. The airline could loose more profits than gain especially due to the 747 using plenty of fuel as well as maintainance costs.
Another argument thrown was that the airline will be paying heavily for parking fees. This isn't correct. PIA being the national airline of Pakistan is owned by the government has it's main hubs at Pakistan's international airports.
This simply means the airline is using government property so it would not have to be paying parking fees.
Then came his argument that PIA should get more passengers in order to be able to use it's 747s.
What people don't know is that PIA looses most of it's international passengers to airliners in the Gulf region which offer lower fares and better timings.
It's important for people to understand the circumstances before being critical of airlines or calling for the use of certain planes which are fit to serve different markets depending on what model they are.
I found his reasoning to be flawed. Firstly for an airline to ground it's fully functioning planes is mostly due to lack of passengers for that airline. To use a fully functioning 747-300 with few passengers is costly. The airline could loose more profits than gain especially due to the 747 using plenty of fuel as well as maintainance costs.
Another argument thrown was that the airline will be paying heavily for parking fees. This isn't correct. PIA being the national airline of Pakistan is owned by the government has it's main hubs at Pakistan's international airports.
This simply means the airline is using government property so it would not have to be paying parking fees.
Then came his argument that PIA should get more passengers in order to be able to use it's 747s.
What people don't know is that PIA looses most of it's international passengers to airliners in the Gulf region which offer lower fares and better timings.
It's important for people to understand the circumstances before being critical of airlines or calling for the use of certain planes which are fit to serve different markets depending on what model they are.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)