Mumbai attack hits Pakistan airlines hard

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is running half-empty flights to India after 26/11.

PIA sources said the national carrier was operating six flights a week to India with 45-52% occupancy after the Mumbai attack and losing millions. Before 26/11, occupancy was over 70%.

PIA bosses have urged the defence ministry to reduce the number of flights to avoid further losses, but the ministry wants it to stay fearing any change could further deteriorate Indo-Pak ties. PIA sources say New Delhi tightened visa rules after 26/11, causing a sharp decline in the number of visitors.

Immediately after the attack, Air India suspended the two flights on the route, but Pakistan continued the service to avoid annoying India.

Before 26/11, PIA was operating 10 flights a week to India — three a week to Delhi from Karachi and four to Mumbai. It was operating another three flights to Delhi from Lahore. After 26/11, however, it has been operating only six flights a week to India — two on each route. Occupancy on the Karachi-Mumbai route has come down from 74% to 47%, on the Karachi-Delhi route from 72% to 53% and on the Lahore-Delhi route from 57% to 42%.