PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International) is considering resuming A310-300 operations as part of its 2017 Hajj charter programme. Urdu private news channel Abb Takk quotes an airline application to the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority (PkCAA) seeking a one-time exemption from the country's aging aircraft rules which currently limit commercial aircraft to a maximum of twenty years of age.

The application shows the state-backed carrier plans to return two A310s to service using landing gear assemblies cannibalized from other grounded aircraft of the type. It also seeks the PkCAA's assistance in obtaining permission from the Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) to add the A310 to its operational specifications once more.

Commenting on the report, a PIA spokesman has said the carrier has yet to take a firm decision on whether to formally return the aircraft to service. Speaking to The Dawn newspaper, the spokesman said PIA would also consult Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) before taking any decision.

PIA formally withdrew its last three remaining A310-300s - AP-BGO (msn 678), AP-BGP (msn 682), and AP-BGR (msn 687) - from commercial service in late December 2016. Since then, the trio has joined seven other PIA A310s in storage at Karachi International where they are understood to all be awaiting the scrapman.