News
PIA seeks leases for eight long-haul jets and BIMAN ends A310 operations
October 21st 2016
Pakistani flag carrier, PIA - Pakistan International Airlines, this week requested proposals from all interested parties for eight widebody aircraft on wet- and dry-leases. Read More »
In the first tender, PIA is looking to wet-lease up to four widebodies for three months from December, seating at least 250 passengers in a two-class configuration with 24 premium seats.
In the second tender, the airline is seeking dry-leases for four widebodies for six to eight years from the middle of next year, seating at least 250 passengers in a two-class configuration, also with 24 premium seats.
PIA is requesting for all relevant proposals to be submitted by November 16. It says preference will be given to aircraft younger than four years and/or with retrofitted cabin interiors.
The Karachi-headquartered carrier last week issued a similar request for proposals, seeking eight narrowbodies, including four on wet and four on dry lease.
PIA is currently supplementing its fleet with an A330-300 on wet lease from haemorrhaging SriLankan Airlines, with another two to follow. Its fixed fleet includes four A310-300s, six B777-200ERs, two B777-200LRs, three B777-300ERs and eleven ATR 42/72s.
Last month, PIA converted its remaining five -300ER orders to an order for eight B787-9s.
Separately, in Bangladesh, flag carrier BIMAN Bangladesh has ended its A310-300 operations. The airline previously said it wants to focus more closely on regional services going forward so it will be looking to replace the A310 with B737-800s.
The carrier now has a fleet comprising four B777-300ERs, two -200ERs, four -800s and two Bombardier Dash 8-400s.
