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- PIA allows seven of its flight landing slots to Turkish airlines and Kuwait airlines at London’s Heathrow Airport
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- For around six months, PIA’s Management has provided them with the babysitting concept
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- Khuwaja Saad Rafique, the Minister of Aviation, is personally monitoring the matter
London: Two foreign airlines Kuwait and Turkish have received seven of PIA’s (Pakistan International Airline) slots at London Heathrow Airport, a major international airport in London, England.
On the issue of pilot licenses, the European Union and British authorities had banned all Pakistani airlines, including PIA. Despite two and a half years, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has not been able to satisfy European and British authorities
According to the news on Geo.tv, PIA has taken a major decision by allowing to use seven of its landing slots to two international airlines, six slots to Turkish airlines and one slot to Kuwait airline for the period of six months at London Heathrow Airport (LHA)
After the ban on PIA flights by the European Union, PIA made an agreement with two foreign airlines for landing its slots at London Heathrow Airport.
The deal is being finalized in Istanbul by PIA’s two major authorities, PIA’s Chief Commercial Officer and PIA’s CEO. Whereas, once the deal is finalized, PIA’s slots at Heathrow International Airport will be reserved.
This decision has been made when PIA was asked to cancel its costly landing slots because they are not in use due to the ban, according to the sources.PIA did not want to lose its place at London’s Heathrow Airport therefore, they contacted foreign countries to make an agreement in order to reserve their place at Heathrow Airport. The national carrier wanted to temporarily transfer its minimum mandatory seven slots to other countries.
Whereas, the cancellation of slots would have had an impact on PIA’s overall operations at London’s Heathrow Airport. Moreover, it has been suggested to PIA use Gatwick or Luton as a second-tier airport.
According to the PIA’s spokesperson, Heathrow Airport slots are extremely important for PIA and it was crucial to make them operational through babysitting “We have given them under the babysitting concept for six months and will get them back once the flight operation starts”.
He further added that Khuwaja Saad Rafique, the Aviation Minister is personally looking after this matter.
