What is being projected as a code sharing arrangement between the PIA and Turkish Airlines is in reality a sell-out of existing PIA routes and slots to New York, Chicago, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome and Frankfurt. In return, the TA offers only joint ventures on existing PIA flights to Kathmandu, Bombay, Dacca, Colombo and Male, all of these routes being east of Pakistan.
Interestingly, the Turkish Airlines presently operates flights to two cities in India, namely Bombay and New Delhi, while it does not operate on any of the other airports mentioned in the joint venture with PIA.
In reality, it is just one airport (Bombay) that the TA offers a joint operation on its network east of Pakistan. The agreement does not mention that the TA will cease operations to Bombay. A million dollar question that needs to be probed is: “How much has PIA sold its gateways and slots to the TA for, or was it just a goodwill gesture?” PIA’s last rites are being performed, and what is the price, nobody knows yet.
SHAHZAD KHALIL
Sialkot
