PIA (you know, our national airline) has been around for a while and it’s history with regards to service has, in the most literal sense, a roller coaster ride. It all started out amazing, but slowly stuff starting getting bad, and we are where we are now. However things may be looking up soon for the national airline.
The Airline started off pretty well actually.
At the very start the airline (then called Orient Airways) had services between East and West Pakistan. However as time moved on, the airline moved to destinations outside of Pakistan and this is when it really up-ed its service game.
PIA’s focus was to make their crew the true ‘Ambassadors of Pakistan and It’s culture. For this reason emphasis was placed on training staff and especially the air hostesses and stewards. For this reason PIA became synonymous with good service.
In the 1960’s they released their first Shalwar Kameez Uniform for the Air Hostesses
This uniform lead the way for uniforms that represented Pakistan. At that time very few airlines showcased their culture through uniforms, making PIA truly unique on the global stage.
The Uniform changed once again in 1960, continuing with the desi trend but adding a little sophistication.
It was during this time that PIA got its most celebrated chairman, Air Marshall Nur Khan. He is best known to this day for his hands on approach. Nur Khan was known to do checks on planes and on the staff on board flights. He’d make sure to check if the plane was in working order, going over paperwork and procedures himself. The staff would be inspected to make sure their uniforms were clean and crisp.
PIA lost it’s beloved Momi Gul Durrani in a flight crash in Cairo. She was highly experienced and modeled for many PIA ads during the time period.
Despite the tragedy, PIA bounced back almost immediately. It was still a trusted brand and people across the world recognized the name. The main selling point for the airline was its people which it encapsulated with its tagline ‘Great People To Fly With’.
The Airline only saw a upward trend in passenger figures. With more money coming in and reputation building up, the brand of PIA was stronger than ever. It’s global network kept growing with operations into Europe, India and even China (this was a time when almost no airlines flew to China).
An airline of such stature attracted some big names in fashion
Like Pierre Cardin
And the dress designer for none other than Queen Elizabeth herself, Sir Hardy Amies
In fact, PIA played a huge role in the initial few days of Emirates Airline. PIA lent them aircraft as well as gave hospitality training.
Well we taught them in less than 5000 years, so efficient *slow clap*
Around the 90s the PIA Management really lost the plot.
It was around the 90’s when rumors swirled that sifaarish had become the primary way to move up the ladder in PIA. The people in charge of the airline were at the top not because they were what the airline needed but because they knew powerful people. The more of the ‘sifaarishi brigade’ came into the airline, the worse it became. No one ran it with the care it needed. Staff training was not maintained and everyone grew a no care attitude. Because of this the management was blissfully unaware how far back they had held the airline. Reports of huge financial losses and a terrible service reputation only made it look like the future was bleak.
Well, until last year when the airline invited local designers to come in and design new uniforms.
The competition was absolutely glamorous. PIA appeared to have come back to life.
Nomi Ansari walked away with the honor of designing the new uniform
The good news doesn’t stop there.
The Airline is launching ‘PIA Premier’ exclusively for its services to London. Photos of the interior and the new uniform will leave you in awe. It seems as though the return of the glory days is not so far, after all.
https://twitter.com/BashirTauheed/status/763579634235637760
International trainers were brought in to train the staff of the new service. In their new gear and with professional training to back them up.
Good Luck, PIA. Make us proud again
Cover Image via: feed.pk
