The passengers of past who would take PIA purely for it being the Pakistani airline to travel back to homeland, now opt for the other competitors namely the Middle Eastern carriers which connect almost all foreign hubs with multiple flights. The question to the answer might be obvious; better service, punctual schedule, better in-flight services.
But what has caused you to stop flying PIA specifically if not the obvious reasons? What in your opinions is needed for PIA to become an airline of choice over competition again?
PIA has been inducting newer aircrafts recently, with addition of leased Airbus A320s and additional Boeing 777 variants in the line to join Pakistan, surely it can utilize those to better serve the existing routes with increased frequencies, and time and resource permitting reopen the markets it chose to vacate due to shortage of passengers loads and/or aircrafts. The actual reasons may not be known, but guesses are welcome.
For me personally, PIA would need to restart serving my city. I’m confident myself and a big portion of the Pakistani community that’s domestic to my city, and other close metropolitans would fly PIA as long as their maintain a consistent schedule, and offer a non-stop flight in the same fashion as New York-JFK. I never had issues with PIA service when I last flew, the aircrafts were fairly new at the time, and the crew were all courteous and attended to passengers’ needs to the best of the equipped abilities. It was a comfortable and uneventful flight all the way there and back.
I would fly PIA again if it served my city with a non-stop option, or for better airfare even a fuel/passenger stop in the Europe as was the case before (Manchester being the mid-point for both legs).
Re: How can Pakistan International Airlines earn your business?
A mention of relevance: A few years ago, PIA could rule the midwest market in U.S. because the Middle Eastern carriers didn't have a strong foothold yet. However, now Emirates/Etihad/Qatar can be found in almost all major U.S. hubs even as far as LAX and Orlando. PIA will have to up its' game significantly, and offer unbeatable fares combined with punctuality because the competition is so stiff. PIA can get an edge if it offers non-stop, that's something the other airlines cannot offer because they must stop at their home hubs before onwards journey.
Re: How can Pakistan International Airlines earn your business?
That is the assumption, yes. Unless the induction of wide body aircrafts is for regional flights (which can already be done using smaller aircrafts). Here's to hoping they put the fleet to effective use and increase existing frequencies, and add new ones or at the very least revive routes which were cut.
Re: How can Pakistan International Airlines earn your business?
Being competitive on airfare is not even the start to a solution. PIA needs to fly more routes more often. This will open them up to markets where they have no credibility, how do they survive than ? Strategy. PIA still has the loyalties of nationals throughout the globe, reaching out to them in countries where the digits are highest will ensure the initial thrust to get them functioning. Then they take it from there, slowly but surely, not discounting the other driving forces of an airline.