A commercial airliner Boeing 737 flying in bad weather crashed into a wheat field outside Islamabad on Friday evening, killing all 127 people on board. It was the second major plane crash near the capital in two years, reviving worries about safety standards in a domestic aviation industry that is plagued by weak regulation, corruption and labor unrest.

The Boeing 737-200 airplane operated by Bhoja Air, a private carrier, had taken off from the port city of Karachi and was approaching Islamabad’s Main International Airport at 6:45 pm when it developed difficulties.

Initial reports suggested that a similar combination of weather and pilot error played a role in Friday’s Air Bhoja crash.

Mr. Mohmood told the private Pakistani news channel Geo that he saw the plane “descending very rapidly” before the crash. “The weather was very rough,” he said. “The pilot could not control the plane.” The death of nearly 300 people in two crashes on approach to the same airport since 2010 angered those in the aviation industry who said government oversight was weak and corrupt.

“This is not about bad weather; I don’t buy that,” said Arif Abbasi, a former chief executive of Pakistan International Airlines, the state carrier. “The state of aviation in this country leaves much to be desired.”

Investigation Continues..

From 15th January 2012 the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority has revised the airport charges from Pakistan, they are as follows:

Infrastructure Development Charges

1. Equivalent charge of USD 6.00 or PKR 540.00 applicable to all international passengers payable by passengers with no exemptions. The charges specified in PKR shall remain valid till 30th june, 2012 and thereafter will be recalculated in accordance with prevailing exchange rate.

2.         Security Charges

USD 2.00 or PKR 180  per departing International passenger, payable by passengers with no exemptions. The charges specified in PKR shall remain valid till 30th june, 2012  and thereafter will be recalculated in accordance with prevailing exchange rate.

3.         Government Airport Tax

Applicable only on Domestic passengers for all classes of travel, PKR 20 .00  with no exemptions given.
4.         Embarkation Fee

The existing Embarkation Fee (SP) has been enhanced with all conditions/ exemptions remaining the same.
A. Domestic all classes        PKR  300

B.  International
1.  First / Business Class    PKR  2000
2.  Economy Class               PKR 1000

Effective  15 ^th  January 2012  the above amounts are to be collected from passengers at departure time till further notice.
Please ensure that you have sufficient funds available for payment at the airport, for further information please contact us on 01332 361650.

If you are considering a spring break, then why not consider one of the tried and tested destinations below – each of which offers its own unique appeal and opportunities.

Crete 

This Greek island destination is popular with all kinds of travellers, from families to groups to couples – and offers something for everyone. With great beaches and a warm spring climate this a great destination for relaxing and getting away from it all, while those with a taste for adventure will enjoy discovering the ancient settlement of Knossos – the mythical home of the Minotaur.

Spain

Ever a favourite with European holidaymakers, Spain is a popular choice for spring breaks. Visitors can choose between sun, sea and sangria on the Costas and the hustle and bustle of the county’s cosmopolitan cities such as Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia. Visitors may wish to look into car hire booking in order to enjoy a combination of the two.

The Netherlands 

If you really want to put some spring in your step then head for Holland. This season is a stunning time to visit this lowland country – famous for its flowers, which will begin to bloom at this time of year. Tour the tulip fields or head for Amsterdam and see the amazing array of colour on offer at the city’s beautiful floating Bloemenmarkt.

Turkey

Turkish breaks are a great choice for those seeking a little warmth to dispel the last of winter. Well equipped to cater for the tourist trade at prices that will not break the bank, Turkey offers economical access to a bit of rest and relaxation.  Discover the beautiful beaches of the Aegean, take a Gulet cruise or head for the ancient city of Istanbul for a culture fix – the choice is yours.

Florida

Florida breaks are popular year round, but opting to travel in the spring can be a savvy choice since the height of the summer can be overly sweltering. You might miss the international crowds at attractions such as Disneyworld and Universal Studio, but be aware that Florida is a favourite destination for US “Spring-breaking” students – so choose accommodations wisely to avoid disturbance.

France

Easily accessed from the UK, France remains a firm favourite for spring getaways with Brits crossing the channel in their thousands each week during the season. France offers a wide range of spring holiday choices from the haunting battlefields of The Somme in the north to the beautiful beaches of the Rivera in the South. Paris too, is delightful in the spring as blossoms spring to life on the tree-line boulevards and longer evening offer more exciting opportunities for explorations.

Thailand 

While Europe offers some exciting destinations, sometimes travellers just want to go tropical. For this reason Thailand is another contender in the spring break stakes. Beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and a real party atmosphere make this a popular choice with young travellers.

KARACHI: The condition of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is terrible, as the ordinary repair works have not been completed after the passage of long time.

It is noted that due to this pathetic condition six or seven planes remain on ground all the time and because of this PIA has to take aircraft on lease. The situation should have been improved after a deal with Dubai-based aviation company Trans World Aviation for the supply of spare parts and facility of $700 million credit line, however, the situation is as it was as delay and cancellation of flights could not be controlled.

According to sources a 747-300 AP-BGG aircraft which is parked in a hanger for recheck, but its test flight on Saturday may not be carried out due to non-availability of its engines. This plane has been grounded due to shortage of engines since July 7, 2011. Besides it another 747-300 AP-BFV aircraft was grounded since October 10, 2011, due to non-availability of four of its engines. Its test flight is scheduled on November 18 on the condition of availability of engines.

Two engines of another 747 AP-BEC plane are required which was parked in the hanger since August 13, 2011, and its expected operational date is November 10, 2011. There is a shortage of one engine of Airbus 310 registration No AP-BEC which was grounded on October 24, 2011, and its expected operational date is November 18.

A PIA source said that the supply of spare parts from Trans World Aviation could not start and the shortfall of the parts persists. The French Aviation Authority has demanded a report from Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority in connection with the protective faults of the PIA planes after one of them was grounded after inspection at the French airport. The French Civil Aviation director demanded a comprehensive report on the faults from Pakistan and asked to follow the European rules strictly.

According to sources, the performance of the high officers, appointed during the tenure of former PIA MD Ejaz Haroon, who used to take salaries in dollars, remained zero and despite taking heavy salaries they have not done any special service to the airline and due to this the airline is bearing millions of rupees loss.

The PIA has taken two old aircraft on lease due to shortage of planes. These aircrafts have been taken from unpopular airline Hailing Aviation. PIA has given permission to these planes for Haj flights. It is pertinent to note that Haj flights and domestic flight operation is badly affected due to fault and delay in repair of aircraft. Meanwhile, the representatives of PIA employees and other representative organisations held a meeting with the PIA MD. They expressed reservations on taking two old Jumbo aircraft on lease from the Greek company and signing of deal with Trans World Aviation for the supply of spare parts and demanded enquiry into it. (source:thenews.com.pk)