ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Board of Directors has taken major decisions at its first meeting following the national airline’s privatisation, including the immediate induction of two new aircraft into its fleet.
According to sources, significant progress has been made after several years on the addition of new aircraft to the PIA fleet. The board has approved the immediate induction of two aircraft on a wet-lease basis.
The two aircraft are expected to join the PIA fleet in October and will initially be used for European flight operations. According to sources, both aircraft will be acquired on a wet lease for an initial period of six months.
The induction of the new aircraft is expected to help increase PIA’s revenue and expand its operational capacity. Under a wet-lease arrangement, the aircraft are operated with the leasing company providing the aircraft along with its crew, including pilots and cabin staff.
The two aircraft being acquired on a wet-lease basis are separate from PIA’s ongoing plans to purchase aircraft from US-based Boeing.
Sources said PIA officials had also visited Boeing’s headquarters in the United States last month regarding a deal to purchase 16 aircraft from the American aircraft manufacturer.
