tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post5917238566143850479..comments2024-03-27T15:36:44.737-07:00Comments on Haq's Musings: IATA Says Pakistan Among Fastest Growing Domestic Air Travel MarketsRiaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-76174912553053112572023-08-18T17:57:20.165-07:002023-08-18T17:57:20.165-07:00Boost to tourism: First international flight lands...Boost to tourism: First international flight lands at Skardu airport<br />In a touching gesture, the captain of the flight opened a window and proudly hoisted the national flag<br /><br />https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1100304-boost-to-tourism-first-int-l-flight-lands-at-skardu-airport<br /><br /><br />SKARDU: A historic moment unfolded at Skardu International Airport as flight PK 234 touched down, marking it the first-ever international flight to land on Skardu soil.<br /><br />The arrival was celebrated with a heartwarming water cannon salute, painting the skies with a majestic display of water arcs.<br /><br />In a touching gesture, the captain of the flight opened a window and proudly hoisted the national flag, symbolising the unity and pride of the nation. Traditional hats and thoughtful gifts were joyously distributed among the passengers aboard the inaugural flight, setting the tone for a remarkable journey.<br /><br />While the initial tourist count was modest, with only 80 passengers on this milestone flight, officials from the national airline revealed that these travelers had embarked on a journey from Dubai to Skardu, making a connecting stop at Skardu. This strategic connection is expected to pave the way for an influx of tourists, injecting new life into the local tourism industry.<br /><br />The residents of Skardu are excited at this as a momentous step towards boosting the region’s tourism. With Skardu being renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the commencement of international flights is anticipated to open doors to a world of opportunities.<br /><br />The successful landing of the first international flight on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day has added an extra layer of jubilation to the festivities.<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-5530146750971385022023-08-07T18:52:34.722-07:002023-08-07T18:52:34.722-07:00Pakistan plans to privatise its loss-making nation...Pakistan plans to privatise its loss-making national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIAa.PSX), the government said on Monday, as the country also seeks to outsource its airport operations in line with an IMF deal.<br /><br />https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/pakistan-privatise-loss-making-national-airline-2023-08-07/<br /><br />The privatisation decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Privatisation chaired by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.<br /><br />The committee "after deliberation decided to include Pakistan International Airlines Co. Ltd in the list of active privatisation projects of the ongoing privatisation programme, following an amendment in the law by the Parliament," a finance ministry statement said.<br /><br />The committee also backed the hiring of a financial adviser to process the transaction of Roosevelt Hotel, New York, an asset of the PIAInvestment Limited, it added.<br /><br />Pakistan hopes to resume PIA flights to Britain in the next three months after services were suspended following a fake pilot scandal.<br /><br />The PIA flights to Europe and the UK have been suspended since 2020 after the European Union's Aviation Safety Agency revoked the national carrier's authorisation to fly to the bloc following the pilot licence scandal.<br /><br />The privatisation of a state-owned enterprise, the PIA, which has accumulated hundreds of billions of rupee in losses and arrears, comes after Pakistan agreed to fiscal discipline plans with the International Monetary Fund.<br /><br />Pakistan secured a $3 billion IMF bailout in June.<br /><br />Reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad and Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru Editing by David Goodman, Mark Potter and Alistair BellRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-31289820783007913642023-07-18T13:58:22.978-07:002023-07-18T13:58:22.978-07:00Pakistan's international passenger traffic was...Pakistan's international passenger traffic was 11 million and domestic was 6 million in 2021-22:<br /><br />https://caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2021%20-%202022-APT.pdf<br /><br /><br /><br />India's was 22 million international and 166 million domestic in 2022.<br /><br /><br /><br />https://www.statista.com/statistics/588028/passengers-boarded-by-type-by-indian-air-carriers/<br /><br /><br /><br />High domestic air traffic depends on two factors: territorial size (distances) of the country and the quality of its land transportation infrastructure. Both these factors cause Indian domestic air traffic to be higher than Pakistan's<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-28381155104141630682022-06-25T18:35:34.503-07:002022-06-25T18:35:34.503-07:00A new runway at Faisalabad International Airport w...A new runway at Faisalabad International Airport will be completed by October this year, enabling Boeing 777 aircraft to land, said Airport Manager Muhammad Anwar Zia.<br /><br /><br />Addressing Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Thursday, he added that the air cargo complex was also under construction and 75% of the work was expected to be completed before the runway becomes operational.<br /><br />Zia expressed satisfaction over the available passenger load and air cargo and said that 102 domestic and international flights were successfully operating from Faisalabad airport.<br /><br />Zia expressed satisfaction over the available passenger load and air cargo and said that 102 domestic and international flights were successfully operating from Faisalabad airport.<br /><br />He said the old runway could only accommodate small planes, which prompted authorities to construct a new runway for wide-bodied aircraft, in view of the projected increase of passengers and air cargo from the city and its catchment areas.<br /><br />---------------<br /><br />The new runway will be completed by October this year, enabling Boeing 777 to land at Faisalabad International Airport.<br /><br />This was stated by airport manager Muhammad Anwar Zia at a meeting with FCCI officials on Thursday.<br /><br />He said the air cargo complex was also under construction and 75 per cent of the work would be completed before the runway becomes operational.<br /><br />He expressed satisfaction over the available passenger load and air cargo and said the airport was in a deficit of Rs220 million when he was posted here.<br /><br />“It is now earning a profit of Rs2 billion,” he said and added that presently 102 domestic and international flights are operating from this airport facility in a month. He said that only small planes could land on the old runway, prompting authorities to construct a new runway.<br /><br />He said a study was conducted to evaluate the passenger load before contacting international airlines. At that time the available passenger load was only 70,000 which jumped to 500,000 and is now expected to cross the mark of 800,000 within the next few years. He said that in a similar pattern, we must calculate the available tonnage of air cargo so that the airlines could be convinced to launch a dedicated air cargo service from this port.<br /><br />He asked the FCCI to share data on air cargo so that a comprehensive study could be finalised. Four planes can be parked at a time and more facilities will also be arranged after calculating the passengers and air cargo shipments, he said.<br /><br />https://www.dawn.com/news/1696356/faisalabad-airport-to-get-new-runway<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-63250484166508836082022-05-31T14:25:30.328-07:002022-05-31T14:25:30.328-07:00Nearly 14 million passengers traveled overseas fro...Nearly 14 million passengers traveled overseas from Pakistan in 2019. <br /><br />And over 6 million traveled domestically, according to Pakistan Civil Association Authority.<br /><br />https://caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2018%20-%202019-APT.pdfRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-58568524706127341902021-09-17T18:50:14.696-07:002021-09-17T18:50:14.696-07:00The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has perf...The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has performed a successful test flight at a Chinese-built runway in the mineral-rich region of Balochistan’s Saindak town, China Urdu reported.<br /><br />https://tribune.com.pk/story/2320056/watch-pia-performs-successful-test-flight-at-juzzak-airport-in-balochistan<br /><br /><br />The development comes a day after Juzzak Airport in the Chagai district of Balochistan was made operational for flights to and from Karachi mainly for the Chinese engineers working on projects in the region.<br /><br />Last month, the Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was informed that the progress on New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) was on track and it would be fully operational by September 2023.<br /><br />In a meeting of the committee presided over by Sher Ali Arbab, the Aviation Division secretary told the panel that the project, which was originally expected to be completed by next year, has been postponed till October 2023.<br /><br />The China Airport Construction Group informed the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) about the new time limit for the project, deferring the project funded by the Chinese company.<br /><br />According to the document obtained by The Express Tribune, the passenger terminal building of the project will be completed by June 2023; work related to air traffic control will be completed by March 2023 while the overall construction of the airport will finish by October 2023.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-41100301370560022642021-06-25T21:06:49.271-07:002021-06-25T21:06:49.271-07:00World’s biggest plane lands at #Karachi Airport in...World’s biggest plane lands at #Karachi Airport in #Pakistan on its way to #US. #Russian-built Antonov An-225 contained #military cargo being transported from #Afghanistan as part of withdrawal plan of #American forces from the war-torn country.<br /><br />https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/stunning-video-of-antonov-an225-taking-flight-near-karachis-jinnah-international-airport/news-story/fbd3e2468c323af1942e4460cd7e8a8e<br /><br />------------<br /><br />CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - With its wingspan of 290-feet and a heft totaling 628,000 pounds, the Antonov An-225 dwarfs most other aircraft. But this giant of aviation accomplished a feat that even it would have been incapable of just a few months ago, landing at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 7.<br /><br />https://www.dvidshub.net/news/66722/worlds-largest-plane-touches-down-camp-bastion-afghanistan<br /><br />The largest and heaviest aircraft in the world, the one-of-a-kind An-225 is currently operated by Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines and contracted to carry large cargo and supplies around the world.<br /><br />“We fly out of the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Germany,” said Alexander Klimov, an Antonov Design Bureau flight manager. “But this is our first chance to fly into here.”<br /><br />The aircraft was able to land at Camp Bastion, because of the new capabilities of the runway here. The new 11,500 flightline at Camp Bastion officially opened in a ceremony, Feb. 11.<br /><br />A combined effort of Marines, sailors and local contractors, the goal of the improved runway is to allow the joint camps of Bastion and Leatherneck to receive air traffic from larger aircraft, like the An-225.<br /><br />“Camp Bastion’s flight line just opened up about a month ago for large aircraft,” said Maj. Erik B. Eldridge, operational planner with I Marine Expeditionary Force. “Now we are hosts to the largest aircraft in the world.”<br /><br />Though the increased capabilities of the runway will allow larger aircraft like the C-5 Galaxy and Boeing 737 to land and launch from Camp Bastion’s runway, members of the Regional Command (Southwest) aviation community said it also benefits combat operations for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) and its coalition partners.<br /><br />“We went from a 7,000 to 11,000 foot runway,” said Capt. Jeff Steele, the director of safety and standardization for Marine Aerial Refueler Transport squadrons deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan. “The difference now is it provides for completely unrestricted operations.”<br /><br />The new runway is located adjacent to the previous 7,000-foot runway, which will remain as a functioning part of the flightline. Steele explained using both the old and new runways allow aircraft to taxi and move about the airfield more efficiently.<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-54651518038727830762019-04-01T19:54:51.067-07:002019-04-01T19:54:51.067-07:00#Pakistan’s #Gwadar International #Airport will be...#Pakistan’s #Gwadar International #Airport will be the largest in the country. Spread over an area of 4,300 acres, it will be able to land Airbus #A380, the biggest wide-body passenger #aircraft. #Balochistan #China #CPEC http://bit.ly/2YF8a4k<br /><br />The construction of the airport will be completed within three years at the cost of US$256million.<br /><br />Unlike other projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are operating under concessional loans, the Airport is planned under a Chinese grant.<br /><br />The airport will also be the biggest in Pakistan at an area of 4,300 acres.<br /><br />It will be the biggest airport of Pakistan. In comparison to other airports like Karachi Airport (3,700 acres), Islamabad International Airport (3,600 acres), Lahore Airport (2,800 acres), the Gwadar Airport will be built on 4,300 acres.<br /><br /><br />--------<br /><br />The airport is one of several development projects in Gwadar worth $690 million which the Chinese government is financing as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.<br /><br />------------<br />The project is part of overall infrastructure development of Balochistan. It would be developed as a green-field facility with all modern facilities for safe operation.<br /><br />The project would comprise a modern terminal building with cargo terminal having initial handling capacity of 30,000 tons per year.<br /><br />On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed for construction of Pakistan and China Vocational Training Institute and Pak-China Friendship Hospital.<br /><br />Prime Minister Imran thanked the Chinese Ambassador for the grant given by the Chinese government for the airport.<br /><br />Benefits to local people<br />He categorically said any development would be of no use unless it benefited the local people.<br /><br />He said in the past, the locals were ignored while executing the development projects in Balochistan. He said gas worth billions of rupees was extracted from Sui but it could not change the living standard of the local people.<br /><br />He said it was pleasing that the capacity of the hospital in Gwadar would be enhanced and a vocational training institute would also help create employment opportunities.<br /><br />Prime Minister Imran announced to launch Insaf Sehat Card (health card) to provide health insurance cover worth Rs720,000 to every family.<br /><br />He said previously power was being transmitted from Iran, but now the government had decided to link the area with national grid.<br /><br />Desalination plant<br />A desalination plant would also be set up in the city and under Clean and Green Pakistan, one million saplings would be planted. Besides, a solid waste management system would also be established to protect the area from pollution.<br /><br />He said following the models of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, the government had decided to recycle water in Gwadar to water the plants.<br /><br />He told the gathering that Gwadar and Quetta would be linked through railways as it was the best travel mode but unfortunately Pakistan had been lagging behind in this sector.<br /><br />Rail links<br />He said Chinese support was being sought to upgrade railway lines as China had the most advanced rail system. A high-speed rail link would cut travel time bewteen Karachi and Lahore to within four hours, instead of 18 hours by car, or 21 hours by bus at the moment.<br /><br />Khan said having located at an ideal location and being well connected, Gwadar’s development would be the development of whole of Pakistan.<br /><br />During the development process of the new airport, the existing airport’s capacity would also be enhanced by making it capable of transporting big aircrafts.<br /><br />With the establishment of new international airport, the Gwadar city would become hub of aviation industry and it would also help elevating the CPEC framework.<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-39256705097208251132018-12-18T14:12:56.393-08:002018-12-18T14:12:56.393-08:00#BritishAirways to resume flights to #Pakistan aft...#BritishAirways to resume flights to #Pakistan after "great improvements" in #security - BBC News<br /><br />https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-airline-britishairways/british-airways-to-resume-pakistan-flights-after-a-decade-idUSKBN1OH0SY<br /><br />British Airways will resume flights to Pakistan next year after a 10-year absence that followed a major hotel bombing, becoming the first Western airline to restart flights to the South Asian nation.<br /><br />BA halted flights following one of the most high-profile attacks in Pakistan’s history, the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing in the capital, Islamabad, which took place during a period of devastating Islamist militant violence that swept the country.<br /><br />But security has since improved, with militant attacks sharply down in the mainly Muslim country of 208 million people. In Islamabad, a web of road checkpoints dotted across the city for more than a decade has mostly been dismantled.<br /><br />Richard Crowder, the Deputy British High Commissioner to Pakistan, told reporters in Islamabad BA’s return was in large part due to “an improvement in the security environment in this country”.<br /><br />Pakistani officials hailed BA’s move, saying it will offer confidence to other foreign investors and make the country less isolated.<br /><br />“Once it gets around the world that British Airways has put its stamp of approval on Pakistan, it will put us one or two notches up as a country to do business with,” said Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood.<br /><br />BA, which is owned by Spanish-registered IAG, is due to begin the London Heathrow-Islamabad service on June 2, with three weekly flights by the airline’s newest long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.<br /><br />At present, only loss-making national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flies directly from Pakistan to Britain, but its aging fleet of planes is a frequent source of complaints by passengers.<br /><br />Middle Eastern carriers Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates [EMIRA.UL] have a strong presence in Pakistan and have been eating into PIA’s dwindling market share. Turkish Airlines also lays on a regular service to Pakistan.<br /><br />Islamabad has been running international advertising campaigns to rejuvenate its tourism sector that was wiped out by Islamist violence that destabilized the country following the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001 and the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.<br /><br />Pakistan was formed at partition at the end of British rule in India in 1947 and more than a million people of Pakistani origin live in Britain.<br /><br />Robert Williams, Head of Sales for Asia Pacific and the Middle East for British Airways, said the carrier believes the route “will be particularly popular with the British Pakistani community who want to visit, or be visited by, their relatives”.<br /><br />Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, a special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, said “British Airways coming back after a decade shows you where we were and how far we have come”.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-65257624866873854172018-07-08T07:16:48.426-07:002018-07-08T07:16:48.426-07:00#Emirates’ special one-off #A380 flight landed in ...#Emirates’ special one-off #A380 flight landed in #Islamabad #Pakistan on Sunday with celebrities, officials, diplomats and journalists on board. #Airline intends to make the #superjumbo a regular daily flight in future to #NewIslamabadAirport<br /><br />https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/emirates-a380-lands-in-pakistan-for-first-time-1.2248195<br /><br /><br />Emirates’ special one-off A380 flight landed in Islamabad on Sunday with celebrities, officials, diplomats and journalists on board.<br />Arrival of the airline’s iconic double-decker special flight EK2524/EK2525 to Islamabad also made history in Pakistan’s aviation as it was the first A380 to have ever landed in Pakistan.<br /><br />Two Emirates alumni pilots including Captain Ejazul Haq and Captain Fazle Ghani, who operated the first ever Emirates flight from Dubai to Karachi on October 25, 1985 were also among the guests on board. Captain Haq had operated the second Emirates flight from Dubai to Mumbai on the same day.<br /><br />Though it was a one-off A380 flight between Dubai and Islamabad, the airline wants to make it a regular daily flight in future.<br />“This is our special flight but we want to operate regular daily flight on an A380 from Dubai to the new Islamabad airport which is fully equipped to receive the big aircraft,” said Shaikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President Commercial Operations Centre, Emirates. The new Islamabad International airport opened in May.<br /><br />Speaking to Gulf News on board the A380, Al Mualla said that negotiations with the authorities concerned in Pakistan have already started in this regard. We are very hopeful that passengers on this route would soon enjoy regular A380 flights.<br />“We came here to showcase our innovative products and will continue to work with authorities to realise our plans to increase capacity to all routes to Pakistan,” he added.<br />Building relations<br />The special A380 flight departed Dubai at 8.15am and arrived at the new Islamabad airport at 12.20pm. The flight departed Islamabad at 15:40 hours arriving in Dubai at 17:45 hours on the same day.<br />Hamad Al Za’abi, the UAE’s Ambassador to Pakistan who was also on board, told Gulf News: “It is a historic day for UAE and Pakistan. We operated the first flight to Pakistan and now brought the first A380 — the world’s largest aircraft — to Pakistan. It reflects that we are building on our relations. We want to make it a daily flight and we are working on it.”<br />Moazzam Ahmad Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, who was among the special guests on-board, said: “It is a new chapter in the Pakistan-UAE relations. Landing of the superjumbo in Pakistan would send a positive message to the business community and investors around the world that Pakistan is a growing market.”<br />He said that the government of Pakistan is in discussions with the UAE authorities to finalise agreement to allow Emirates to operate the A380 to Pakistan. “It is a win-win situation for both the countries. Emirates is very important to us as thousands of Pakistanis not only from UAE but from around the world use it to travel to and from Pakistan.”Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-16995404972242637232018-04-03T17:59:53.964-07:002018-04-03T17:59:53.964-07:00The International Air Transport Association (IATA)... The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036, a near doubling of the 4 billion air travelers expected to fly this year. The prediction is based on a 3.6% average Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) noted in the release of the latest update to the association’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast. <br /><br />http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2017-10-24-01.aspx <br /><br />Pakistan's total aviation market grew 5.11% from 2015-16 to 2016-17, according to CAA data. <br /><br />Pakistan's domestic market increased 3.2% from 2015-16 to 2016-17. <br /><br />Pakistan's international market grew 6.1% from 2015-16 to 2016-17. <br /><br />A total of 21.7 million passengers (7.2 million domestic, 14.6 million international) flew commercial airlines in Pakistan in 2016-17, up from 20.7 million (6.95 million domestic, 13.76 million international) in 2015-16, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).<br /><br />https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2016%20-%202017-APT.pdf<br /><br />https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2015%20-%202016-APT.pdf <br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-90585985741481041872018-04-03T17:53:33.341-07:002018-04-03T17:53:33.341-07:00Pakistan's total aviation market grew 5.11% fr...Pakistan's total aviation market grew 5.11% from 2015-16 to 2016-17, according to CAA data. <br /><br />Pakistan's domestic market increased 3.2% from 2015-16 to 2016-17. <br /><br />Pakistan's international market grew 6.1% from 2015-16 to 2016-17. <br /><br />A total of 21.7 million passengers (7.2 million domestic, 14.6 million international) flew commercial airlines in Pakistan in 2016-17, up from 20.7 million (6.95 million domestic, 13.76 million international) in 2015-16, according to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).<br /><br />https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2016%20-%202017-APT.pdf<br /><br />https://www.caapakistan.com.pk/upload/AT/stats/2015%20-%202016-APT.pdfRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-74174153064547580092018-02-12T16:34:15.626-08:002018-02-12T16:34:15.626-08:00#Saudi carrier Flynas to launch 14 flights a week ...#Saudi carrier Flynas to launch 14 flights a week to #Pakistan from Thursday to #Lahore and #Islamabad to serve 2.5 million strong #Pakistani diaspora<br /><br />http://www.arabnews.com/node/1244976/saudi-arabia<br /><br />Flynas is to launch 14 direct flights from the Kingdom’s airports to major cities in Pakistan, beginning on Thursday.<br />Announcing its expansion program, the airline said the launch is part of its ongoing program to extend its reach to Asia and open new strategic international routes.<br />Flynas will launch flights from Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah to both Lahore and Islamabad and will commence on Thursdaywith flights from Riyadh to Lahore. Riyadh-to-Islamabad flights will follow on Friday, along with flights from Dammam to Lahore, while flights from Jeddah to Lahore will be launched on Saturday.<br />These flights will utilize the A320 fleet and new B767 aircraft. Bookings can be made through flynas’ smartphone application, travel agents, and the flynas website.<br />The new routes will serve business travelers as well as ferry Hajj and Umrah visitors. They will also connect passengers to many cities within the Kingdom with flynas’ network, which includes 17 domestic destinations.<br />Speaking to Arab News, Pakistan Ambassador Khan Hasham bin Siddique said: “It is a matter of great satisfaction to see flynas resuming its operations in Pakistan. Air links are vital not only for facilitating travel between the two countries but also for enhancing overall relations by further strengthening people-to-people contacts, business interactions, bilateral trade, and tourism.<br />“The resumption of operations in Pakistan, while ensuring the continuity of the momentum gathered recently by several high-level bilateral visits and interactions, will especially provide impetus to our trade and commercial relations,” the envoy said.<br />It will be particularly welcome for the 2.7-million-strong Pakistani community residing in Saudi Arabia, the ambassador stressed.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-32709813067560457162018-01-29T07:28:19.050-08:002018-01-29T07:28:19.050-08:005 airlines to venture into Pakistan
Source: Xinhua...5 airlines to venture into Pakistan<br />Source: Xinhua| 2018-01-29 20:13:38|Editor: Lifang<br /><br />http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/29/c_136934060.htm<br /><br />ISLAMABAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Five national and international airlines have applied for regular public transport airline license of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to venture into the country's aviation industry, local reports said Monday.<br /><br />The airlines are expected to get permission to carry out the flight operation in the country's skies during the next one year, which is likely to bring down passenger fares, local newspaper Express Tribune said.<br /><br />Airlines including Askari Air, Air Siyal, Go Green, Liberty Air and Afeef Zara Airways have applied for the license to be a part of the aviation industry which is expected to be around 9 percent per annum and likely to keep the same pace till 2020, according to a forecast of the International Air Transport Association, a trade body of world's airlines.<br /><br />Pakistan's air traffic has soared up to 40 percent over the past five years to 20 million passengers, and is continuously witnessing an upward trend due to improvement of law and order situation in the country, which is bringing in more tourists in the country.<br /><br />The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has also resulted in the increase of air traffic in the country.<br /><br />Most of the upcoming carriers will target low-profit, far-off destinations including Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Dalbandin, Zhob, in Balochistan province where CPEC projects are in full swing, and the tourist destinations of Rawalakot, Skardu, Chitral, Gilgit, Bannu and Parachinar.<br /><br />The destinations could generate immediate profits because of their tourism potential and work on CPEC projects.<br /><br />For these remote regions, the new carriers will bring airplanes suitable for small airports.<br /><br />The entry of new airlines in the country's airspace is expected to further increase challenges of the country's national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines, which was the sole operator in most of these routes in the past.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-51344603160122866852018-01-18T10:53:14.431-08:002018-01-18T10:53:14.431-08:00Malam Jabba: Hub of tourism in Pakistan
https://w...Malam Jabba: Hub of tourism in Pakistan<br /><br />https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/15/malam-jabba-hub-of-tourism-in-pakistan/<br /><br />Known for its scenic beauty, Swat is also called the ‘Switzerland of Pakistan’. While the valley has nearly always remained a major tourist attraction, its local economy mainly depends on tourism.<br /><br />Located about 300 kilometers from Islamabad and 42 km from Saidu Sharif, Malam Jabba is a complete adventure tourist destination, and perhaps the finest skiing resort in Pakistan.<br /><br />Malam Jabba has two Buddhist stupas and six monasteries that are spread across the resort. The presence of the monuments at such a height clearly indicates that the area was settled over 2000 years ago. Malam Jabba also offers two exciting trekking trails that offer excellent scenery. The Shangla Top is a trek that is about 18 kilometers from the resort.<br /><br />In the year 2005, the government started losing its control over the valley and later in 2007 it completely fell to non-state actors. While the government was able to reestablish its writ, no one believed that the charm Swat once had for tourists would ever get restored.<br /><br />But today, with investors pouring money into the valley’s local tourism, it has once again become a major tourist attraction. While the Pearl Continental Hotel, Malam Jaba is starting its operations in July 2018, a major international skiing competition is also being held on Jan 17 at the Malam Jaba resort that has been rebuilt by the Samson’s Company.<br /><br />It’s pertinent to mention here that militants had burnt down the PTDC motel – built with Australian collaboration, had destroyed the chairlift cable and an office of the meteorological department in Malam Jabba back in 2008.<br /><br />Yaqoob, the ski resort’s manager told Pakistan Today that more than one-hundred-thousand tourists come to Malam Jaba every month during winters. Owing to it, the local business has improved, he added.<br /><br />The manager at the resort further said that the event will not only project a better image of the country but will also help restore the faith of the international community in Pakistan being a safe destination for both the investors and tourists.<br /><br />While the ongoing projects indicate that the valley is on the right track to development, the initiatives should be encouraged and supported by all stakeholders of the board as any controversy regarding any investment would roll back the efforts which the KP government has made till now, and will leave the people of Swat behind as those who will lose the most.<br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-7027590702756560912017-10-18T10:48:49.908-07:002017-10-18T10:48:49.908-07:00TRAVEL & TOURISM
ECONOMIC IMPACT 2017
PAKISTAN...<br />TRAVEL & TOURISM<br />ECONOMIC IMPACT 2017<br />PAKISTAN<br /><br />World Travel and Tourism Council WTTC<br /><br />The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was PKR793.0bn (USD7.6bn), 2.7% of total<br />The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was PKR2,033.5bn (USD19.4bn), 6.9% of GDP in 2016, and is<br />forecast to rise by 6.0% in 2017, and to rise by 5.8% pa to PKR3,793.0bn (USD36.1bn), 7.2% of GDP in 2027.<br />In 2016 Travel & Tourism directly supported 1,337,500 jobs (2.3% of total employment). This is expected to rise<br />by 2.3% in 2017 and rise by 2.5% pa to 1,757,000 jobs (2.3% of total employment) in 2027.<br />In 2016, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by<br />Visitor exports generated PKR93.8bn (USD893.8mn), 3.6% of total exports in 2016. This is<br />Travel & Tourism investment in 2016 was PKR375.2bn, 9.3% of total investment (USD3.6bn). It should rise by<br />8.1% in 2017, and rise by 8.0% pa over the next ten years to PKR872.0bn (USD8.3bn) in 2027, 11.4% of total. <br /><br />https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2017/pakistan2017.pdfRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-18190435018896276462017-10-10T21:09:56.701-07:002017-10-10T21:09:56.701-07:00Avari group launches hotel in Multan
https://www....Avari group launches hotel in Multan<br /><br />https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/235983-Avari-group-launches-hotel-in-Multan<br /><br />China would not let anyone dismember Pakistan or harm its territory because it was investing $ 46 billion in it for its survival, a leading businessman said on Tuesday. <br />“China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would be a game changer for Pakistan which would bring prosperity, development and employment for thousands of people,” Byram Dinshawji Avari, chairman Avari Group of Companies told a press conference after the inauguration of Avari Xpress Boutique in Multan. <br />“I prefer to invest Pakistan and that’s why I am launching hotels of world-class in Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Islamabad, and other cities. All Pakistanis should invest in Pakistan and they should not look to other countries.” <br />Avari said he did not agree with those economists who were expressing their reservations on Chinese investment. “China would neither prove to be an East India Company nor capture our country,” he said. <br />He added that Gwadar port would help boost international trade with China and central Asian states. “When a motorway can help boost country's economy, business, and <br />prosperity, then why China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a major project of Rs4600 billion will not prove to be a game-changer,” Avari asserted. <br />He said that investors should come forward to raise the graph of Pakistan in economy. Speaking on the occasion, the former Punajb minister Jalaluddin Roomi hoped that trade and economic activities would increase with the establishment of hotels of international repute in Multan. “A special economic zone should be developed in Multan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project,” Roomi demanded.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-52003234357712979872017-10-02T20:08:32.024-07:002017-10-02T20:08:32.024-07:00#Lahore based #Pakistani #American founder of #AI ...#Lahore based #Pakistani #American founder of #AI #unicorn Afiniti takes investors helicopter skiing in #Pakistan. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-02/tycoon-takes-investors-heli-skiing-to-show-them-pakistan-s-safe<br /><br />AI firm Afiniti employs three-quarter of employees in Pakistan<br />Company may list next year with more than $2 billion valuation<br />In the northern snow-capped peaks of Pakistan, Zia Chishti disembarked off a helicopter and skied downhill on a mission to convince investors, clients and company executives that the nation once called by The Economist “the world’s most dangerous place” is now safe for business.<br /><br />Chishti, who grew up in Lahore, gathered a group from more than a dozen countries including Alessandro Benetton, a heir to the billionaire family that owns the iconic namesake Italian clothing company, and Huawei Technologies Co. rotating Chief Executive Officer Guo Ping earlier this year to Pakistan, the back-end base for some of his businesses. Last month, his artificial intelligence company signed a deal with Huawei, which will help its push into Eastern markets including China, Japan and Australia.<br /><br />For Chishti, ensuring his clients understand that Pakistan, which has struggled against internal militant groups, has changed since The Economist report a decade ago is critical because many of his employees who provide customer solutions, sales support and marketing to clients including Sprint Corp. and Caesars Entertainment Corp. are based in the South Asian nation. Chishti has added more people in Pakistan, a move that will also help him keep costs under control as his AI unit prepares for an initial public offering in the U.S.<br /><br />“Pakistan by any reasonable and adaptive measure is an extremely safe place to do business,” said Chishti, whose office oversees the White House, said in an interview by phone. “All in all it’s a very favorable place to do business and the world perception just has to catch up.”<br /><br />Despite a widespread negative perception over the country’s security record, multiple military operations have curbed domestic insurgents after a Pakistani Taliban massacre at a school three years ago shocked the nation. Last year, civilian deaths from terrorism dropped to the lowest in more than a decade.<br /><br />The army’s drive has boosted the confidence of companies, including TRG, and foreign investment is up 155 percent to $457 million in the first two months of the business year started July. Chishti’s company has moved into a larger building this year that will fit 3,000 staff in the previously tumultuous port city of Karachi, which has been secured by paramilitary forces against gangsters, militants and political militias since 2013. <br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-87766392191960225992017-09-27T20:28:51.292-07:002017-09-27T20:28:51.292-07:00#Tourism thrives in #Pakistan as number of foreign...#Tourism thrives in #Pakistan as number of foreign tourists triples and domestic tourism up 30% since 2013. #travel<br /><br />https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/as-terror-attacks-recede-tourism-in-pakistan-starts-to-thrive<br /><br />As security improves, annual tourist arrivals to Pakistan has more than tripled since 2013 to 1.75 million last year, while domestic travelers rose 30 percent to 38.3 million, according to the state-owned Pakistan Tourism Development Corp. Over the same period, foreign tourist arrivals in the country’s larger neighbor, India, jumped from 6.97 million in 2013 to 8.8 million in 2016, government figures show.<br /><br />The World Travel and Tourism Council puts the total contribution of tourism to Pakistan’s economy at $19.4 billion last year or 6.9 percent of gross domestic product. In a decade, the WTTC expects that to rise to $36.1 billion.<br /><br />Still, security challenges remain. While casualties from attacks fell 43 percent last year, major cities, such as Lahore, are occasionally hit by bombings.<br /><br />Jonny Bealby, the managing director of Wild Frontiers Adventure Travel Ltd., a London-based operator that has run trips to Pakistan for two decades, said his tours to the South Asian nation are up 60 percent from last year.<br /><br />Along with security, Bealby said the main improvement in Pakistan has been infrastructure. “The roads have improved immeasurably reducing journey times.’’<br /><br /><br /><br />---------<br /><br />Annual tourist arrivals have more than tripled since 2013<br /><br />Military campaign has boosted safety, infrastructure improved<br /><br />After a bone-jarring mountain journey, Alan Cameron surveys the snow-capped peaks of Pakistan’s north near the Saiful Maluk lake. “It’s beautiful -- well worth the effort,” said the 34-year-old Canadian holidaying in a country better known for terrorism than tourism.<br /><br />Taking a break from his job as an analyst at Jefferies in London, Cameron’s vacation last month underscores the rekindling of Pakistan’s tourism industry after a sustained military security crack-down, with annual arrivals more than tripling since 2013.<br /><br />Keen to shed the image that it’s unsafe for visitors, Pakistan has begun a nascent tourism drive and this summer placed adverts across the sides of London’s iconic red buses. Road infrastructure has also been boosted across key holiday regions.<br /><br />Since the 2014 massacre of more than 100 children at a military school, the army has neutered some insurgent groups and political militias. Tourists are now returning to areas such as the Swat Valley, a northern region known as the Switzerland of Pakistan that was controlled by the Taliban between 2007 and 2009 and where Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai was shot in 2012.<br /><br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-38508604497146171142017-09-26T19:05:29.234-07:002017-09-26T19:05:29.234-07:00How many flights per day in Pakistan?
https://www...How many flights per day in Pakistan?<br /><br />https://www.quora.com/How-many-flights-per-day-in-Pakistan<br /><br />Tom Quetchenbach, occasional flyer<br />Answered Jun 4<br />To get a very rough idea, we can look at some data from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority for 2015–2016. According to this data set, there were 157,214 aircraft movements (takeoffs or landings) at Pakistan’s larger airports in 2015–2016, of which 71,227 were domestic and 85,987 were international. That’s an average of about 431 aircraft movements per day. Assuming that this is double-counting at least most the domestic flights, because what goes up must come down (that is, each domestic flight consists of two aircraft movements in Pakistan—a takeoff and a landing), dividing the domestic aircraft movements by 2 gives 98 domestic and 236 international flights per day on average.<br /><br />But that is certainly an underestimate, because it doesn’t account for flights to, from, or between smaller airports, military flights, etc. It’s also not clear to me whether this includes flights by smaller, unscheduled carriers and aircraft operators other than passenger or cargo airlines.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-63782702349857906792017-07-18T07:09:01.331-07:002017-07-18T07:09:01.331-07:00Overseas investors in #Pakistan find 94% reduction...Overseas investors in #Pakistan find 94% reduction in #crime. #Lahore 94%, #Karachi 92% reduction.<br /><br />https://tribune.com.pk/story/1460324/overseas-investors-find-94-reduction-crime/<br /><br />Overseas investors in Pakistan have observed up to 94% decline in different crimes all over the country in 2017, according to the annual survey conducted by Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI).<br /><br />Respondents of the OICCI security survey 2017 experienced a drop in the overall street crimes with a 69% reduction in minor crimes (like mobile and cash snatching) and 90% decrease in major street crimes (like car snatching).<br /><br />In terms of serious crimes like abductions/hostage taking and extortion (bhatta) – respondents across Pakistan reported major reductions as compared to 2016, ranging from 94% decrease in Lahore, closely followed by the rest of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (93%) and Karachi (92%).<br /><br />Security survey 2017 is conducted in June and highlights a positive movement in the OICCI members’ perception of the country’s security environment. This comprehensive security survey has been conducted every year since 2015. It reflects the foreign investors’ perception on the improving security environment in the country especially after the launch of 2013 Karachi operations.<br /><br />OICCI members have reported significant improvement in confidence and comfort of their staff on security matters, which went up further after the 86% increase reported in the previous survey, as the staffs now feel even more comfortable in their everyday commute to/from the workplace.<br /><br />More significantly, a noteworthy feedback from the latest OICCI security survey is that a higher number of expatriate business visitors have travelled to Pakistan in the past one year and most of the business related meetings are now being held within Pakistan. Prior to August 2013 these were conducted in other countries due to security concerns.<br /><br />This is a strong indicator that Pakistan as a destination has improved on the security concerns map and that such foreign businessmen are being granted travel permissions for their visit to Pakistan from their respective embassies and travel security agencies.<br /><br />An overwhelming 62% respondents reported substantial increase in the number of overseas visitors to Pakistan as compared to last year. The highest number of OICCI members’ foreign visitors was from European countries followed closely by visitors from Middle East, China, Singapore, USA and Japan.<br /><br />The 2017 survey once again re-affirms that threats and security concerns have substantially reduced in Pakistan for all key stakeholders of businesses including OICCI members.<br /><br />“The security environment has substantially improved not only for the survey participants, meaning foreign investors, but also for their customers, suppliers and employees,” said OICCI President Khalid Mansoor.<br /><br />The 2017 OICCI security survey result mirrors the improved security environment all over Pakistan, especially in Karachi in comparison to the last year and greatly enhanced since the time prior to August 2013.<br /><br />A significant majority of the respondents were confident that the general threats to business had reduced compared to last year and a look at the last survey in June 2016 echoed the improvement nation-wide with Karachi’s security situation being given the thumbs up by 89%, closely followed by Lahore and the rest of Punjab with 85% and 82%.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-1095283139994748732017-06-25T10:29:42.091-07:002017-06-25T10:29:42.091-07:00JCR-VIS
SECTOR UPDATE
Aviation Industry
The aviati...JCR-VIS<br />SECTOR UPDATE<br />Aviation Industry<br />The aviation industry is characterized by high competition<br />arising from soft barriers to entry, cyclicality, and<br />vulnerability to economic shocks...<br /><br /><br />http://www.jcrvis.com.pk/docs/Aviation201608.pdf<br /><br />Based on economic and<br />demographic growth,<br />IATA has projected<br />intra Pakistan air<br />traffic to grow at 9.9%<br />over the next 20 years,<br />more than twice the<br />4.1% projected annual<br />world growth rate. This<br />supports the prospects<br />of growing revenues for<br />airliners <br /><br />Local Industry Structure<br />• There are three domestic players in Pakistan: Pakistan International Airlines<br />(PIA), Shaheen Air International Limited (SAI) and Air Blue Limited.<br />• Indus Air, which commenced flights in 2013, was forced to cease operations<br />in 2015 by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on account of failure to meet<br />legal minimum requirement of fleet size of 3 airworthy aircrafts.<br /><br />Total passenger traffic has grown at a CAGR of 5.3% over the last 5 years and has reached 15.1m<br />passengers during FY15.<br />• Based on economic and demographic growth, IATA has projected intra Pakistan air traffic to grow<br />at 9.9% over the next 20 years, more than twice the 4.1% projected annual world growth rate.<br />This supports the prospects of growing revenues for airliners.<br /><br />Market Share (Domestic Passenger Traffic)<br />• Domestic passenger traffic has remained relatively stagnant over<br />the last five years. During FY15, total number of domestic air<br />passengers amounted to 3.15m vis-a-vis 3.59m during FY14. The<br />reduction was mainly due increase in number of domestic airports<br />/ destinations, facilitating direct travel.<br />• PIA’s market share in terms of domestic passenger traffic was 51%<br />for FY15. However, the same has decreased from 72% during FY10<br />on account of mismanagement and inefficiencies. Market share<br />of PIA is expected to decline further in FY16 due to a two week<br />airline strike, which allowed other players to gain market share.<br />• Shaheen Air is the second largest player having 27% (FY10: 14%) market share in terms of<br />domestic passenger traffic followed by Air Blue at 13% (FY10: 14%).<br />Market Share (International Passenger Traffic)<br />• Total international air travel for Pakistan has grown at a CAGR<br />7.1% over the last five years. Total international passenger traffic<br />amounted to 11.9m passengers (FY14: 10.9m, FY10: 8.5m) during<br />FY15.<br />• Market share of foreign carriers during FY15 has increased to 56%<br />(FY14: 53%) of total international air travel in/out of Pakistan.<br />Based on the above mentioned reasons, along with competitive<br />pricing from Emirates Airlines, PIA’s market share decreased from<br />43% in FY10 to 23% in FY15.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-52673452700960119172017-06-01T15:26:17.971-07:002017-06-01T15:26:17.971-07:00India is buying over 1,000 new planes - but can it...India is buying over 1,000 new planes - but can it handle them?<br /><br />http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/01/news/economy/india-aircraft-orders-report-capa/<br /><br />India is adding airline passengers faster than any other country, and it needs more planes to carry them: 1,080 more, to be precise.<br />To meet exploding demand, the South Asian nation is set to to buy 2.2 new airplanes for each of the 480 aircraft currently in service, according to a new report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).<br />The U.S. and China are the only countries to have more pending aircraft orders, the report says.<br />Boeing, one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of the massive spending spree, is equally optimistic. The manufacturer predicts India will need 1,850 new planes over the next two decades. It values the orders at $265 billion.<br /><br />The U.S. firm will reportedly agree in the coming weeks to sell 100 planes to Indian carrier Jet Airways. It is also a top contender to sell another 100 to the country's newest airline, Vistara.<br />Boeing is locked in a battle for India's skies with European rival Airbus, which already has contracts with several Indian carriers.<br />"We are in constant communications with the airlines in India about their current and future fleet needs," a Boeing spokesperson said Thursday, while declining to comment on individual deals.<br /><br />The buying frenzy, led by budget airlines like SpiceJet and IndiGo, is not without reason. Around 220 million Indians flew last year -- an annual increase of 20% -- and the country is on track to overtake the U.K. as the world's third-largest aviation market by 2026.<br />But the race to capture that market is a slippery slope, and CAPA warned that airlines risk biting off more than they can chew.<br />"Unprecedented expansion will place immense pressure on the aviation system," the report said. "The industry currently appears to be underestimating the challenges ahead."<br /><br />There are several examples in India's aviation history that serve as a cautionary tale, with Kingfisher Airlines -- the defunct carrier owned by beer baron Vijay Mallya -- being the most recent example.<br />National carrier Air India is also in a precarious position, and talks of offloading it into the private sector have gathered momentum in recent weeks.<br /><br />Another huge challenge is a lack of infrastructure. India's aviation boom is severely threatened by the fact that only 75 of its 400 airports are currently operational -- and even the biggest hubs like Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai are bursting at the seams.<br />With 700 of India's 1,080 new planes set to be delivered within the next ten years, CAPA said the country's lack of preparedness could quickly unravel the industry.<br />"Aircraft induction on this scale will require massive infrastructure development, skilled resources ... at a pace that has not been seen before in India," the report said. "Parking bays and runway slots will become increasingly scarce over the next few years."Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-1450590960990279192017-05-30T10:29:09.494-07:002017-05-30T10:29:09.494-07:00Indian aviation takes off but growth weighs on air...Indian aviation takes off but growth weighs on airports<br /><br />http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/03/indian-aviation-takes-off-but-growth-weighs-on-airports.html<br /><br />After a long rough patch, Indian aviation is finally booming, but that burst of growth is now taking a toll on the industry's infrastructure.<br /><br />High operating costs, intense competition and the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines had weakened both business and civil sectors in previous years, but recently the Indian market has turned a corner into the world's fastest growing, largely thanks to supportive government policies.<br /><br />India is currently the sole bright spot in Asia's aviation sector, Neil Book, CEO at the largest independent aviation firm JSSI, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Wednesday.<br /><br />Private jet sales are up and the emerging middle/upper classes have witnessed double-digit growth rates in travel, he explained.<br /><br />The upper middle class made up 8 percent of the population in 2015, and is set to hit 12 percent by 2020, according to Boston Consulting Group. Meanwhile, the ultra-high net worth population--defined as those whose net worth exceeds $50 million--stood at 178,000 in 2016 and will increase 57 percent by 2021, estimates Credit Suisse.<br /><br />Unlike his predecessors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has loosened industry restrictions that are set to increase new aircraft deliveries as well as in-service and used business jets, Book continued.<br /><br />Indeed, 2016 was a landmark year for Indian carriers as Modi unveiled a national civil aviation policy aimed at expanding air travel. Under the policy, domestic airlines are no longer required to log five years of domestic routes before getting an overseas permit, known as the 5/20 rule.<br /><br />The government also said it would limit base fares on regional routes to 2,500 rupees ($37) per hour of travel in an attempt to make flying more viable for commercial passengers.<br /><br />As strong economic fundamentals boosts air traffic, India may even overtake Japan this year to become the world's third largest domestic market behind the U.S. and China, the Centre of Aviation (CAPA) stated in a new report.<br /><br />But the skies aren't entirely clear. The biggest risk to Indian aviation is the same one plaguing the national economy: creaky infrastructure.<br /><br />"India faces the very real prospect of an airport capacity crisis," CAPA noted. "Slot constraints and congestion are key issues at most metro airports and are expected to remain so for the near term as new terminals and runways will take 2-3 years to develop."<br /><br />The developments of new airports, such as the Navi Mumbai International Airport, have also been subject to lengthy delays, CAPA added.<br /><br />Airspace is another potential concern on the supply side, with CAPA recommending that the air navigations services division of the Airports Authority of India be hived-off as a separate entity and corporatized.<br /><br />If airports remain saturated, choking off air connectivity to India's centers of commerce, industry and tourism, the economic ramifications could be severe, CAPA warned.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-78042988794266239842017-05-30T06:12:07.927-07:002017-05-30T06:12:07.927-07:00IATA’s Passenger Forecasts Indicate Fastest Growin...IATA’s Passenger Forecasts Indicate Fastest Growing Markets of the Future<br /><br />http://www.unitingaviation.com/economic-development/iatas-passenger-forecasts-indicate-fastest-growing-markets-of-the-future/<br /><br />http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Documents/TopTenPaxMarkets_graph.pdf<br /><br />As the aviation market and passenger forecasts continue on a path of growth and the demand for air travel doubles over the next twenty years, the biggest demand will be in the Asia-Pacific region.<br /><br />Based on the latest figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the United States will remain the largest air passenger market until around 2030, when it will drop to second, behind China. These estimates indicate that the US will carry 18.3 billion more passengers and China 16.9 billion over the next 20 years.<br /><br />Currently the ninth largest market, India will see a total of 367 million passenger movements by 2034, an increase of 266 million annual passengers compared to today and will overtake the United Kingdom (148 million extra passengers, total market 337 million) to become the 3rd largest market around 2031.<br /><br />Reflecting a declining and aging population, Japanese air passenger numbers will grow just 1.3% per year and decline from the 4th largest market in 2014 to the 9th largest by 2033.<br /><br />Germany and Spain will decline from 5th and 6th position in 2014 to be the 8th and 7th largest markets respectively. France will fall from 7th to 10th while Italy will fall out of the top 10 altogether around 2019.<br /><br />Brazil will increase passenger numbers by 170 million and rise from 10th to 5th. Its total market will be 272 million passengers.<br /><br />Indonesia will enter the top ten around 2020 and attain 6th place by 2029. By 2034 it will be a market of 270 million passengers.<br /><br />IATA’s long-term forecasts are prepared for passenger and freight traffic and aircraft movements and their related parameters to support planning in airport, airline, air navigation and other aviation sectors.<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.com