Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KARACHI112
2009-04-03 10:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:
SINDH - PIA PLANS NEW AIRPLANE PURCHASES BUT CAA
how-toVZCZCXRO8741 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHKP #0112/01 0931002 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031002Z APR 09 FM AMCONSUL KARACHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0994 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0452 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0253 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0296 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1841 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2694 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4577 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000112
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019
TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD PREL PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - PIA PLANS NEW AIRPLANE PURCHASES BUT CAA
DOUBTS AIRLINE CAN AFFORD IT
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ
FOR REASONS 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KARACHI 000112
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019
TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD PREL PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - PIA PLANS NEW AIRPLANE PURCHASES BUT CAA
DOUBTS AIRLINE CAN AFFORD IT
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ
FOR REASONS 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) Summary: In a March 24 meeting, Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director Aijaz Haroon
told Islamabad Econ Counselor and Consular Officials that his
airline hopes to purchase new Boeing aircraft and add new
routes in the coming year. Haroon also said PIA, aided by
lower fuel prices, had made a profit in the last quarter and
expected this trend to continue. To further reduce costs for
the airline, PIA is expected to move to a single airline
fleet, jettison the A-310's in favor of Boeing 737's.
However, in a separate meeting, Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA) Deputy Director General Habib said PIA had been
"hemorrhaging funds," and doubted the airline could afford
new planes. Habib was complimentary of Shaheen Airlines,
which has recently expanded its operations, and categorized
Air Blue as mismanaged. End summary.
New Airplanes on the Horizon?
--------------
2. (C) During a March 24 meeting with Islamabad Econ
Counselor, PIA Managing Director Aijaz Haroon said Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) officials recently met with
Boeing and Airbus and received attractive offers to purchase
new airplanes. Haroon said PIA would like to purchase 27 new
airplanes to replace its mixed fleet of aging Airbus A-310s
and Boeing 737s. (Note: The Airbus aircraft in the PIA fleet
are leased. According to Boeing officials, these planes have
not been successfully integrated into the total fleet and are
expensive to operate. Boeing believes that Haroon and PIA
are willing to go to an all-Boeing fleet, but that
competition with Airbus will be cut-throat. End note.)
3. (C) Haroon spoke frankly about Pakistan's economy, calling
the country's problems "serious." He said PIA had recently
received 7,000 applications for 200 entry level positions.
He said while the Government of Pakistan (GOP) would like to
help PIA, it lacks the necessary resources, and hinted that
the IMF or international donors might be willing to help, a
notion that we did not encourage.
PIA Making Money
--------------
4. (C) Haroon told Econ Counselor that PIA had been
profitable in the last quarter and would continue to make
money "as long as oil remained below $60 a barrel." But he
admitted that much of the airline's revenue goes to pay back
loans taken to cover past losses. Haroon believes PIA is in
better shape than other airlines in the region. He said he
learned at a recent airline conference in India that PIA was
currently in a better competitive position than Air India,
Jet Airways, and Indigo Air because, unlike these Indian
airlines, PIA does not have an excess capacity problem.
Not Afraid of the Competition
--------------
5. (C) When Econ Counselor asked Haroon about competition
from Air Blue, he said PIA has not been hurt, and that Air
Blue was poorly managed and had expanded too quickly. He
pointed out that Air Blue recently reduced its flights to
Manchester from seven to four times per week. Haroon said
when he learned that Air Blue used income from UN charters to
undercut PIA's fares, PIA went head to head with Air Blue to
compete for UN business ferrying UN peacekeeping forces.
A Modest Proposal
--------------
6. (C) Haroon said he made a presentation at the India
conference calling for increasing the number of tourist visas
issued by both India and Pakistan in order to promote travel
between the two countries as a way to grow airline business.
He admitted his idea was poorly received and was probably
"premature." Haroon would also like the two countries to
share engineering and training facilities. PIA currently
sends engines to KLM facilities in Holland for maintenance
KARACHI 00000112 002 OF 002
and its pilots go to Dubai and Cairo for periodic training.
Religious Tourism
--------------
7. (C) Haroon believes religious tourism geared towards
Muslims and Sikhs visiting holy sites in India and Pakistan
would help the region's economy and ease tensions. Haroon
believes his ideas would work, but require leadership to
initiate.
New Flights
--------------
8. (C) Haroon said PIA will commence new flights to Frankfurt
and Barcelona. He said he saw a business opportunity because
Barcelona is home to 50,000 Pakistanis, many of whom were
recently granted legal immigrant status by Spain, and are now
more likely to travel. Haroon opined that neither Lufthansa
nor British Airways (BA) will return to Pakistan this year.
In fact, PIA has asked for permission to use some of BA's
slots at Heathrow Airport. Haroon also said PIA's daily
flights to London, especially business class seats, are
completely sold out.
CAA Claims Huge Losses at PIA
--------------
9. (C) Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director General Air
Vice Marshall Sajid Habib presented a different view of PIA
in a meeting March 25, noting that over the years PIA had
lost "substantial" sums of money, and that the airline
currently loses around USD $50 million a month. Habib called
PIA a "mismanaged state-run company," claiming that PIA has
564 employees per aircraft, while the industry standard is
214.
Can PIA Afford New Planes?
--------------
10. (C) When Econ Counselor raised the issue of PIA's plans
to purchase additional planes, Habib said he doubted PIA
could afford this. Habib praised Pakistan,s two private
airlines, Air Blue (started by a former PIA director) and
Shaheen, run by a former Pakistan Air Force officer who had
made a fortune in real estate in Canada, for their efficient,
cost-conscious operations - again a markedly different
assessment from Haroon's.
11. (C) Comment: Given the GOP's financial situation and
pressure by the IMF to reduce spending, its ability to
provide financing to PIA will be minimal. While Haroon,s
attitude towards India seemed sincere and forward-looking, he
admitted that last year's Mumbai attack is still an open
wound between Pakistan and India.
RODRIGUEZ
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019
TAGS: EAIR ECON ETRD PREL PK
SUBJECT: SINDH - PIA PLANS NEW AIRPLANE PURCHASES BUT CAA
DOUBTS AIRLINE CAN AFFORD IT
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY ACTING CONSUL GENERAL CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ
FOR REASONS 1.4 b and d.
1. (C) Summary: In a March 24 meeting, Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director Aijaz Haroon
told Islamabad Econ Counselor and Consular Officials that his
airline hopes to purchase new Boeing aircraft and add new
routes in the coming year. Haroon also said PIA, aided by
lower fuel prices, had made a profit in the last quarter and
expected this trend to continue. To further reduce costs for
the airline, PIA is expected to move to a single airline
fleet, jettison the A-310's in favor of Boeing 737's.
However, in a separate meeting, Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA) Deputy Director General Habib said PIA had been
"hemorrhaging funds," and doubted the airline could afford
new planes. Habib was complimentary of Shaheen Airlines,
which has recently expanded its operations, and categorized
Air Blue as mismanaged. End summary.
New Airplanes on the Horizon?
--------------
2. (C) During a March 24 meeting with Islamabad Econ
Counselor, PIA Managing Director Aijaz Haroon said Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) officials recently met with
Boeing and Airbus and received attractive offers to purchase
new airplanes. Haroon said PIA would like to purchase 27 new
airplanes to replace its mixed fleet of aging Airbus A-310s
and Boeing 737s. (Note: The Airbus aircraft in the PIA fleet
are leased. According to Boeing officials, these planes have
not been successfully integrated into the total fleet and are
expensive to operate. Boeing believes that Haroon and PIA
are willing to go to an all-Boeing fleet, but that
competition with Airbus will be cut-throat. End note.)
3. (C) Haroon spoke frankly about Pakistan's economy, calling
the country's problems "serious." He said PIA had recently
received 7,000 applications for 200 entry level positions.
He said while the Government of Pakistan (GOP) would like to
help PIA, it lacks the necessary resources, and hinted that
the IMF or international donors might be willing to help, a
notion that we did not encourage.
PIA Making Money
--------------
4. (C) Haroon told Econ Counselor that PIA had been
profitable in the last quarter and would continue to make
money "as long as oil remained below $60 a barrel." But he
admitted that much of the airline's revenue goes to pay back
loans taken to cover past losses. Haroon believes PIA is in
better shape than other airlines in the region. He said he
learned at a recent airline conference in India that PIA was
currently in a better competitive position than Air India,
Jet Airways, and Indigo Air because, unlike these Indian
airlines, PIA does not have an excess capacity problem.
Not Afraid of the Competition
--------------
5. (C) When Econ Counselor asked Haroon about competition
from Air Blue, he said PIA has not been hurt, and that Air
Blue was poorly managed and had expanded too quickly. He
pointed out that Air Blue recently reduced its flights to
Manchester from seven to four times per week. Haroon said
when he learned that Air Blue used income from UN charters to
undercut PIA's fares, PIA went head to head with Air Blue to
compete for UN business ferrying UN peacekeeping forces.
A Modest Proposal
--------------
6. (C) Haroon said he made a presentation at the India
conference calling for increasing the number of tourist visas
issued by both India and Pakistan in order to promote travel
between the two countries as a way to grow airline business.
He admitted his idea was poorly received and was probably
"premature." Haroon would also like the two countries to
share engineering and training facilities. PIA currently
sends engines to KLM facilities in Holland for maintenance
KARACHI 00000112 002 OF 002
and its pilots go to Dubai and Cairo for periodic training.
Religious Tourism
--------------
7. (C) Haroon believes religious tourism geared towards
Muslims and Sikhs visiting holy sites in India and Pakistan
would help the region's economy and ease tensions. Haroon
believes his ideas would work, but require leadership to
initiate.
New Flights
--------------
8. (C) Haroon said PIA will commence new flights to Frankfurt
and Barcelona. He said he saw a business opportunity because
Barcelona is home to 50,000 Pakistanis, many of whom were
recently granted legal immigrant status by Spain, and are now
more likely to travel. Haroon opined that neither Lufthansa
nor British Airways (BA) will return to Pakistan this year.
In fact, PIA has asked for permission to use some of BA's
slots at Heathrow Airport. Haroon also said PIA's daily
flights to London, especially business class seats, are
completely sold out.
CAA Claims Huge Losses at PIA
--------------
9. (C) Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director General Air
Vice Marshall Sajid Habib presented a different view of PIA
in a meeting March 25, noting that over the years PIA had
lost "substantial" sums of money, and that the airline
currently loses around USD $50 million a month. Habib called
PIA a "mismanaged state-run company," claiming that PIA has
564 employees per aircraft, while the industry standard is
214.
Can PIA Afford New Planes?
--------------
10. (C) When Econ Counselor raised the issue of PIA's plans
to purchase additional planes, Habib said he doubted PIA
could afford this. Habib praised Pakistan,s two private
airlines, Air Blue (started by a former PIA director) and
Shaheen, run by a former Pakistan Air Force officer who had
made a fortune in real estate in Canada, for their efficient,
cost-conscious operations - again a markedly different
assessment from Haroon's.
11. (C) Comment: Given the GOP's financial situation and
pressure by the IMF to reduce spending, its ability to
provide financing to PIA will be minimal. While Haroon,s
attitude towards India seemed sincere and forward-looking, he
admitted that last year's Mumbai attack is still an open
wound between Pakistan and India.
RODRIGUEZ