PIA to add eight more aircraft by next year, CEO

News Desk

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Inter­na­­tional Airlines (PIA) will add eight aircraft to its fleet next year, its CEO has told a Senate committee.

The meeting of the Senate Stan­ding Committee on Aviation, cha­ired by MNA Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed Khan Babar, was held on Monday at the Islamabad Interna­tional Airport, said a press release.

In his briefing, PIA CEO Khurram Mushtaq said the new wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft would be used on long routes.

He said the ban on PIA’s flights to Europe had been lifted after four years. The airline’s operation to the continent would resume with a flight to Paris on January 10. The national carrier would operate two flights a week on this route.

The CEO further said that PIA’s agreement with Air France would facilitate passengers travelling to other European countries.

While responding to committee members’ complaints about food served on PIA flights, the CEO said its quality has already been improved.

The CEO further revealed that daily flights from Karachi to Sukkur will start on Wednesday (today), adding that the construction of motorways has reduced the number of travellers on domestic flights.

Development of airports

The Pakistan Airports Autho­rity DG gave a briefing on the development of airports.

He said the runways of Lahore and Quetta airports had been upgraded, while parking and transportation issues had also been solved at the Quetta airport.

The committee was also briefed on the Aviation Division’s strategic initiatives for airport development projects.