Pakistan/Turkey/United States: Information on the flight schedules for: a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Lahore to Karachi on 21 November 1994; a Turkish Airlines flight from Karachi to Istanbul on 22 November 1994; and a Trans World Airlines (TWA) flight from Istanbul to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York on 23 November 1994; on other airlines that flew from Istanbul to JFK airport on 23 November 1994 if TWA did not have a flight; on the prices of these flights; and on whether each airline's personnel examine passenger travel documents or leave it to the appropriate immigration officials

The following information was provided in a 15 May 1995 telephone interview with an employee at the reservations desk of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Toronto. It is impossible to get a flight schedule for a PIA flight in November 1994, as flight schedule records are removed from the computer periodically. The PIA employee said that since the flight in question was seven months ago, the information could probably only be obtained from PIA headquarters in Karachi. However, the employee stated that currently there are PIA flights from Lahore to Karachi every four hours. The employee was unable to provide a more precise time schedule, however. The flight from Lahore to Karachi is two hours long (ibid.).

The PIA employee stated that PIA airfare went up by "a few dollars" in April 1995, and that records of the old fare no longer exist as they were also removed from the computer. The source stated, however, that if the ticket from Lahore to Karachi were purchased in Pakistan, and only in Pakistan, it would cost 1715.00 Pakistani rupees one-way, or approximately CAN$ 77, at today's exchange rate (ibid.). However, if the ticket for a flight from Lahore to Karachi were bought in Canada, it would cost CAN$ 247 or US$ 140 US one-way (ibid.). The source emphasized that these prices are as of May 1995 prices, and are not those that were in effect in November 1994 (ibid.).

The PIA employee stated that since the flight from Lahore to Karachi is a domestic flight, immigration is not involved. PIA personnel, therefore, only examine the flight tickets and boarding passes of the passengers on the flight in question (ibid.).

The following information was provided in a 16 May 1995 telephone interview with an employee in reservations at Turkish Airlines in New York. Flight and price information for a Turkish Airlines flight from Karachi, Pakistan to Istanbul, Turkey on 22 November 1994 cannot be provided. However, the employee stated that the flight schedules and prices have probably not changed significantly since then; current flight and price information might therefore be helpful. Turkish Airlines flights from Karachi to Istanbul are twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing from Karachi at 3:50 am and arriving in Istanbul at 7:20 am (ibid.). The current price from Karachi to Istanbul one-way is US$ 635, or 19660.00 Pakistani rupees (ibid). The Turkish Airlines' reservation employee was unable to provide information on whether or not Turkish Airlines' personnel examine the travel documents of its passengers, further to the document examination made by immigration officials (ibid.).

The following information was provided in 15 May 1995 telephone interviews with Trans World Airlines (TWA) in St. Louis, Missouri. TWA does not fly to or from Istanbul, Turkey, but it does have a ticket arrangement with Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) and Al Italia (via Rome) to JFK Airport in New York. Once in either Frankfurt or Rome, passengers transfer to a TWA plane and then fly on to JFK Airport (ibid.).

TWA stated that flight schedules for 1994 are removed from the computer once the schedules for 1995 are determined. Therefore, the flight schedule for 23 November 1994 for a TWA flight from Istanbul to JFK, via Lufthansa or Al Italia, cannot be provided.

TWA flight prices are set by season; although the schedules and prices for 1994 are no longer accessible, the price for November 1995 may, however, be utilized, since there has only been a slight fare increase since November 1994. On one occasion, TWA quoted a price for the flight from Istanbul via Rome (Al Italia) to JFK Airport as approximately US$ 1183.95 one-way, and the flight from Istanbul via Frankfurt (Lufthansa) to JFK Airport as approximately US$ 1552.66 one-way. On a second occasion, TWA quoted a price for both Istanbul-Rome-JFK Airport and Istanbul-Frankfurt-JFK Airport as approximately US$ 1158.95 one-way, with possible additional taxes (ibid.).

TWA stated that, in addition to the document check made by immigration officers, TWA personnel also examine the flight ticket and passport of each passenger to ensure that the ticket was not stolen (ibid.). TWA added that, since TWA does not fly to or from Istanbul, it is the responsibility of Lufthansa or Al Italia to check the travel documents of their passengers, if that is their policy, in addition to the examination made by the immigration officers. Once the passengers board a TWA plane in either Frankfurt or Rome to fly to JFK, TWA personnel check the ticket and passport of each passenger (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Toronto. 15 May 1995. Telephone interview with reservations employee.

Trans World Airlines (TWA), St. Louis, Missouri. 15 May 1995. Telephone interviews.

Turkish Airlines, New York. 16 May 1995. Telephone interview with reservations employee.