01.08.2022 - 04:35 UTC
PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) is planning to add widebody aircraft, which may include both A330 and B787 types in undisclosed variants.
"PIA would be looking at acquiring three wide body aircraft during the first quarter of 2023. The RFQ for that purpose will be floated within the next few weeks," spokesman Abdullah H. Khan told ch-aviation.
The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that PIA's widebody fleet comprises six B777-200(ER)s (17.5 years old on average), two B777-200(LR)s (17.3 years), and four B777-300(ER)s (14.7 years). The airline has an outstanding order for a further five B777-300(ER)s, which dates back to 2012, although it is highly questionable whether the aircraft will ever be taken up by PIA. The Pakistani flag carrier considered switching the B777 order to eight B787-9s in 2016. However, the order was never officially amended.
During a briefing with the carrier, Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq instructed PIA to refurbish the cabins of the two B777-200(LR)s, which currently operate mainly to Toronto Pearson...
27.07.2022 - 09:52 UTC
Pakistani lawmakers are to scrutinise what they believe to be a dodgy deal between PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) and a local company to develop a PKR700 million rupee (USD3 million) inflight entertainment system (IFE) for the national carrier's eight B777-200(ER)s.
The country’s Senate Standing Committee on Aviation this week will probe the deal between the airline and Pakistani firm Aviation Avionics. This followed a decision in 2020 to go with the local firm after off-the-shelf solutions proved too expensive, according to local news reports.
The aim was to make the national carrier more competitive on long-haul routes to Europe and the US while boosting the local manufacturing industry. PIA’s long-haul flights had lacked an effective IFE system for some time, leaving it at a competitive disadvantage against the likes of Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways.
The Senate committee will also investigate the closure of PIA’s Hyderabad booking office and look into the appointment and qualifications of the current director general of the Pakistan Civil...
12.04.2022 - 11:44 UTC
PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) has issued a Request for Proposals for the charter of two 250+ seat widebody aircraft for charter operations between June 2022 and November 2022.
Eligible operators must have a valid EASA and IOSA certification and be authorised to operate both to the European Union and the United Kingdom. Preference is for operators with passenger charter experience, particularly to/from Pakistan, and for carriers with a large fleet. PIA requires the operator to also ensure the availability of a backup aircraft.
PIA requires that the aircraft be 2004 builds or younger. It did not outline any specific requirements regarding types or cabin configurations, although aircraft with full-flat seats in business class will score higher than others.
According to a tentative schedule published by PIA as a part of the RFP, it is planning to base one of the chartered aircraft out of Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l to operate to Manchester Int'l, Birmingham Int'l, London Heathrow, and Paris CDG. The other unit will also...
Editorial Comment: Article updates with the operator of PIA's routes to the EU/UK. - 14.07.2022 - 06:44 UTC
14.03.2022 - 04:03 UTC
PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) has put two of its derelict/mothballed A310-300s up for sale alongside an A300B4(F) seized from AirACT (9T, Istanbul Atatürk) in 2010 for unpaid fees to PIA Engineering.
Tender documentation shows the aircraft involved are:
- A310-300 AP-BGN (msn 676);
- A310-300 AP-BEG (msn 653);
- A300B4(F) TC-ACY (msn 107).
All three planes are non-runners, are stored at Karachi Int'l, and are being sold on a voetstoots (as-is/where-is) basis.
Ahead of the March 29 auction at 1400L (0900Z), bidders must put down a PKR500,000 rupee (USD2,800) refundable deposit. On-site inspection will be carried out on March 28. Successful bidders will have 30 days to remove the aircraft.
