THE demand for a chance to reform the airline by PIA employees is not only absurd but out of place. Where were these beneficiaries of the taxpayers` money all these years? I remember my last flight from Karachi to Islamabad via a wet-leased aircraft operated by Malaysian crew that made my experience memorable.
The crew of three young boys treated the economy class passengers like five-star hotel guests. They were quick and polite. A fewpassengers asked for tea when they had almost wrapped up. Tea was served with a smile. To test their patience and hospitality, I also asked for one and got it with same politeness. On the contrary, PIA crew take passengers as a liability and treat them like unwanted guests. This attitude is all across the government-owned enterprises, may it be a bank or any other public service institute.
Will we see the old glory of our national carrier again through local or foreign hand? Nadeem Nasir Rawalpindi (2) I WENT to the PIA office in Riyadh last year to buy a Riyadh to Lahore roundtrip ticket. The booking officer told me the ticket would cost me 34,000 Saudi riyals.
I asked him for a discount which he refused. I then went to a private Pakistani airline where I got the ticket for 2,150 Saudi riyals for the same route.
Why such a huge difference in the ticket prices. Is our national airline only for VIPs and private airlines for ordinary people? It is time PIA was privatised.
