KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has to bear the losses of over Rs 600 million due to the five-day protests by its employees against the national-flag carrier’s proposed privatisation.
Meanwhile, a senior official of PIA said that the airlines is taking innovative and radical steps to improve efficiency of the national flag carrier.
“Strengthening the PIA fleet, achieving greater operational efficiencies and extending maximum facilities to passengers are the foremost priority of the management,” The official said to APP.
Elaborating, he said, Enterprise Resources planning would be implemented by end of the current year under which Finance, Human Resources and Administration, Procurement and Inventory would be targeted initially.
He said 175 cabin crew were being hired and new uniform for them was introduced to give PIA a new vibrant look. He said Central Reservation Control (CRC), roster for pilots and cabin crew were being automated to increase revenue and achieve better crew productivity. Besides, “new flat bed seats and in-flight entertainment (IFE) are being introduced for 777 aircraft.”
The official said seven new aviation centres had been opened for training of engineers and technicians in different cities, adding that cabin crew were got trained as master trainers from Qatar Airway, who were now imparting training to rest of the crew.
Commenting on existing strength of aircraft, he said two more planes would join the fleet of national flag carrier in next two months. “The aircraft were scheduled to be inducted in the fleet by December last, but now one each will be arriving in February and March, bringing the number of planes to 40,”
Presently, he said, PIA had 38 aircraft, out of which 22 were operating at domestic routes and 27 at international destinations. Giving break-up of the fleet, the official said, PIA had 11 A320 and five A310 Airbuses, 11 Boeing 777, six ATR 42 and five ATR 72.
In 2015, he said, PIA airlifted 2.9 domestic and 1.4 international passengers, adding that PIA had 14,847 employees excluding daily wagers and per aircraft employees ratio was 390.
Giving details of PIA’s ownership rights, he said, 91 percent shares were of the government, 4.4 percent of public and others, and 3.9 percent of PEET (PIA Employees Empowerment Trust).
He said PIA’s accumulated losses were Rs254.6 billion, while its total liabilities stood at Rs 320.4 billion, outstanding loan obligation Rs 174.6 billion, and negative equity Rs 179.2 billion, besides PIA had to pay average Rs 3 billion loan repayments (based on existing loans) and Rs 1.1 average monthly interest payments.
