09-09-2004, 03:54 PM
Joint Pak-UK airline plans flights from November
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MEHMUD AHMED
ISLAMABAD (September 09 2004) A new airline resulting from joint Pakistan-UK investment plans flights between Islamabad and Manchester from coming November, provided Pakistan government approves the operation.
It will be a 'Combi-operation' sharing payload equally between passengers and cargo.
The carrier, known as 'Global Spirit Airlines' plans to expand operations between Pakistan and 13 other countries which the investors did not identify at the news conference here on Wednesday.
To begin with, the airline intends a twice-weekly service with a DC-10 configured at 200 passengers and 15 tons cargo. The aircraft, according to sponsors, has put in 20 years service and has airworthiness certificate. It will be called 'The Spirit of Pakistan'.
The owners of 'Global Spirit' are T & M International Group of UK which is a British-Pakistani company. The Group Chairman, Tasejad Jeffrey, said that the carrier is awaiting formal approval from Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, pending for the last three months. Normally, such applications are responded within three weeks of submission, under Air Services Agreement.
He said he was expecting clearance shortly and to commence operations from November next, becoming "the second British national carrier" on the proposed route.
The British Airways, the UK flag carrier, already has two flights a week between Islamabad and London Heathrow airport.
Jeffrey said his Group has plans for investing £ 15 million yearly in Pakistan as his fellow investors believe that stable political climate in Pakistan is right for trade and investment. Encouraged by policies of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, his Group has relocated its regional head office from Dubai to Karachi.
He, as well as the Group Managing Director Maisam Jeffrey, deflected questions about possible tariff which 'Global Spirit' will charge on its route by saying that the carrier would offer the businessmen "an opportunity to travel economically".
But explaining that they proposed to have two-class configuration, they added that the Nawab Class fare would be based on conventional Business Class fare and Spirit Class in line with market economy class fares.
"We do not pose a threat to any operating carrier, and have no intention to undercut." On the contrary, the Global Spirit would complement the existing schedules.
The airline also intends to re-introduce something which the other airlines have stopped doing years ago--a coach service for pick and drop services between city terminal and airport.
The T & M International Group, according to a profile, is in public relations, consultancy, marketing, import-export, cargo logistics, real estate and catering businesses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2004
"Allah does not change the state of people unless they change what is within themselves" Quran 1311
-------------------------------------------------
MEHMUD AHMED
ISLAMABAD (September 09 2004) A new airline resulting from joint Pakistan-UK investment plans flights between Islamabad and Manchester from coming November, provided Pakistan government approves the operation.
It will be a 'Combi-operation' sharing payload equally between passengers and cargo.
The carrier, known as 'Global Spirit Airlines' plans to expand operations between Pakistan and 13 other countries which the investors did not identify at the news conference here on Wednesday.
To begin with, the airline intends a twice-weekly service with a DC-10 configured at 200 passengers and 15 tons cargo. The aircraft, according to sponsors, has put in 20 years service and has airworthiness certificate. It will be called 'The Spirit of Pakistan'.
The owners of 'Global Spirit' are T & M International Group of UK which is a British-Pakistani company. The Group Chairman, Tasejad Jeffrey, said that the carrier is awaiting formal approval from Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, pending for the last three months. Normally, such applications are responded within three weeks of submission, under Air Services Agreement.
He said he was expecting clearance shortly and to commence operations from November next, becoming "the second British national carrier" on the proposed route.
The British Airways, the UK flag carrier, already has two flights a week between Islamabad and London Heathrow airport.
Jeffrey said his Group has plans for investing £ 15 million yearly in Pakistan as his fellow investors believe that stable political climate in Pakistan is right for trade and investment. Encouraged by policies of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, his Group has relocated its regional head office from Dubai to Karachi.
He, as well as the Group Managing Director Maisam Jeffrey, deflected questions about possible tariff which 'Global Spirit' will charge on its route by saying that the carrier would offer the businessmen "an opportunity to travel economically".
But explaining that they proposed to have two-class configuration, they added that the Nawab Class fare would be based on conventional Business Class fare and Spirit Class in line with market economy class fares.
"We do not pose a threat to any operating carrier, and have no intention to undercut." On the contrary, the Global Spirit would complement the existing schedules.
The airline also intends to re-introduce something which the other airlines have stopped doing years ago--a coach service for pick and drop services between city terminal and airport.
The T & M International Group, according to a profile, is in public relations, consultancy, marketing, import-export, cargo logistics, real estate and catering businesses.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2004
"Allah does not change the state of people unless they change what is within themselves" Quran 1311
