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BA to replace Jumbo with B-777 on Islamabad-London route

MEHMUD AHMED

ISLAMABAD: The British Airways is downgrading its Islamabad-London flight and also eliminating Manchester from the route from the end of this month, the airline sources said here on Friday.

The airlines will introduce B-777 with a capacity of 14 in the first class, 55 in the Club and 195 in the economy in place of 400 Jumbo of series from March 27 the last day of its flight to London via Manchester.

The British flag carrier operates thrice weekly Monday, Thursday and Saturday - arriving in the early hours and returning shortly after arrival.

The downgrading of the equipment and shortening of the route has been ascribed by reliable persons of the carrier to a cut-throat price competition that it fielded from other carriers which, except the PIA, operated to London through intermediate points.

The travel agencies agree with reasons given by the British Airways for down-scaling their flight. They say the national carrier of Pakistan has to share the responsibility as it, instead of intervening to curb the lowering of prices, had 'hunted with the hounds'.

The British Airways had limited its operation in Pakistan to the Federal Capital and until the price run was happy with the traffic flow. Most of it was from the Azad Kashmir as the "Mirpuris" and "Pindiites", live in and around Manchester and the industrial town of Bradford and this flight suited them well until the recent price-war gave new options

It is yet not known if the Pakistan International Airlines will be required to trim its route in reciprocity and terminate at London. If that happens it will lower their income also as they will have to share a pro-rated part of their price with the local carriers.