fbpx
Wikipedia

Pakistan International Airlines

Pakistan International Airlines (Urdu: پاکستان انٹرنیشنل ایئر لائنز; abbreviated PIA, Urdu: پی‌آئی‌اے) is an international airline that serves as the national flag carrier of Pakistan under the administrative control of the Secretary to the Government of Pakistan for Aviation. Its central hub is Karachi's Jinnah International Airport, while Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Islamabad International Airport serve as secondary hubs.

Pakistan International Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
PK PIA PAKISTAN
Founded29 October 1946; 76 years ago (1946-10-29) (as Orient Airways)
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programPIA Awards Plus
Subsidiaries
  • Roosevelt Hotel
  • Hotel The Scribe (Paris)
  • Skyrooms (Pvt) Limited
  • PIA Investments Limited
Fleet size40
Destinations60[1]
Parent companyAviation Division, GoP[2]
Traded asPSX: PIAA
HeadquartersJinnah International Airport
Karachi,  Pakistan
Key peopleMuhammad Amir Hayat (CEO)
Revenue Rs. 94.989 billion (US$420 million)
(FY 2019–20)
Operating income Rs. -680 million (US$−3.0 million)
(FY 2019–20)
Net income Rs. -34.643 billion (US$−150 million)
(FY 2019–20)
Employees7,500[3] (2022)
Websitepiac.com.pk

PIA was founded on 29 October 1946 as Orient Airways, and was initially based in Calcutta, British India, before shifting operations to the newly independent state of Pakistan in 1947. Orient Airways was nationalised to form the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC).[4] The new airline commenced international services in 1955 to London, via Cairo and Rome.[5] PIA, in 1964 became the first non-Communist airline to fly to China.[6] The airline played a vital role in the establishment of Emirates Airline in 1985.[7] In 2004, PIA became the launch customer of the Boeing 777-200LR.[8][9] On 10 November 2005, PIA used the Boeing 777-200LR to complete the world's longest nonstop flight by a commercial airliner. This flight lasted 22 hours and 22 minutes on the eastbound route between Hong Kong and London.[10][11]

PIA is Pakistan's largest airline and operates a fleet of 30+ aircraft. The airline operates nearly 100 flights daily, servicing 18 domestic destinations and 25 international destinations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.[1] In addition to commercial flight operations, PIA also owns the Sofitel Paris Scribe Hotel in Paris,[12] and The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. The airline operates a frequent flier programme, PIA Awards +, and has several codeshare and interline agreements. However, it is not part of any airline alliance.[13]

On 30 June 2020, PIA was banned from flying in European airspace initially for six months, starting on 1 July 2020, and then indefinitely after EASA determined that the airline was not capable of certifying and overseeing its operators and aircraft in accordance with applicable international standards.[14] This decision was made soon after it was revealed that at least a third of all pilot's licenses issued in Pakistan were not genuine.[15] By 9 July 2020, the airline was also banned by the United Kingdom and the United States.[16]

Early years

 
Passengers and bystanders with an Orient Airways Douglas DC-3 on the occasion of the arrival of the Burmese High Commissioner to India at Calcutta, circa 1947

Pak International Airlines can trace its origins to the days when Pakistan had not yet come into existence following the end of the British Raj and the Partition of British India. In the early 1930s, Imperial Airways operated its long-haul routes by creating a lot of small airports across Africa and Asia. The Handley Page H.P.42 aircraft was Imperial Airways' first major success, as it was specially designed to handle operations from unprepared ground.

In 1945, the country's founder Muhammed Ali Jinnah realized the need for a flag carrier for the prospective country and requested financial help from wealthy businessmen Mirza Ahmad Ispahani and Adamjee Haji Dawood for this purpose.[17] As a result, the new airline, Orient Airways, was registered in Kolkata (then known as Calcutta) on 23 October 1946.[17] Orient became the first and only Muslim-owned airline in the British Raj.[18][19]

In February 1947, the airline bought three Douglas DC-3 aircraft and obtained a licence to fly in May of the same year.[17] The airline started its operations on 30 June 1947, offering services in British India from Calcutta to Sittwe and Rangoon (present-day Yangon).[20]

Post-independence

On 14 August 1947, Pakistan gained independence and Orient Airways started relief operations for the new country. The airline was entrusted with the task of servicing air routes between East and West Pakistan.[17] By 1949, Orient acquired three Convair CV-240s to service the Karachi-Delhi-Calcutta-Dhaka route and became the first Asian airline to operate Convair aircraft.[17]

1950s

Orient's traffic continuously declined until 1953 as Britain's BOAC had been granted rights to carry passengers between the two wings of Pakistan, while two other local competitors also began serving Orient routes.[17] As a result of losses, the Pakistani government began subsidizing Orient's operations through a 1952 contract for the purchase of three Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations registered to the government's newly established subsidiary, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), at the cost of 25 million rupees.[17] PIA had been established as a department of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, and was tasked with operation and maintenance of the new Lockheed aircraft.[17]

Pakistan's government established the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation through the merger Orient Airways with Pakistan International Airlines on 1 October 1953 by an interim joint operating agreement in which the government assumed financial control of the airline, while Orient's operations and ground assets could be complemented by the aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines – although Orient Airways continued to operate under its name for a few more years.[17]

Pakistan's Ministry of Defence took over operations from the Civil Aviation Authority in early 1954, while the chairman of Orient Airways became the CEO of PIA, and foreign staff brought in to help relaunch the airline.[17] On 7 June 1954, Orient Airways began nonstop flight services between East- and West Pakistan, with service from Karachi to Dhaka using Pakistan International Airlines' Lockheed aircraft that had been ordered in 1952 and delivered in early 1954. The route was subsidized by the government so that middle-class Pakistanis could afford to fly the route, with rates that may have been the lowest in the world at the time.[17] The airline also introduced two new domestic routes: Karachi–LahorePeshawar and Karachi–Quetta–Lahore.

On 11 March 1955, Orient Airways and Pakistan International Airlines were formally merged as part of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Ordinance, 1955. Orient Airways ceased operations while the government of Pakistan took a majority holding in the airline.[17] The new PIA had a fleet of three L-I049C Super Constellations, two Convair CV-240s, and eleven DC-3s.[17]

The newly relaunched airline also inaugurated its first international route, Karachi-London Heathrow Airport[21] via Cairo and Rome, using the newly acquired Lockheed L-1049C Super Constellations. The airline continued using DC-3s on domestic routes in Pakistan. PIA carried 113,165 passengers in 1955 – 50% higher than in 1954.[17]

In May 1956, PIA ordered five Vickers Viscount 815s. The airline also entered into a partnership with PanAm to train PIA's personnel in 1956.[17] In 1957–1958, passenger numbers rose to 208,000, necessitating the purchase of 2 additional Lockheed Super Constellations.[17] The appointment of Air Marshal Nur Khan as the managing director of PIA in 1959 heralded an era of success for PIA.[22]

1960s

 
A Boeing 720 at Heathrow Airport on 24 June 1962[23]

In February 1960, PIA wet-leased a Boeing 707 from Pan American airlines and introduced it onto the Karachi-London route on 7 March 1960 initially using PanAm pilots,[24] thereby becoming the first Asian airline to induct and commercially operate a jet aircraft in its fleet.[24][25][6]Air India took delivery of a 707 earlier on 21 February 1960, but did not induct the aircraft into commercial service until 19 April 1960.[26] An all-Pakistani crew began operation of the 707 from 20 June 1960 onwards.[17] By the end of 1960, PIA, for the first time, entered financial profitability.[17]

With the newly acquired aircraft, the airline introduced its first trans-Atlantic route Karachi-New York via London on 5 May 1961,[17] which was suspended in February 1963.[27] In 1961, it expanded its fleet by placing orders for 3 Boeing 720s, which were delivered in 1962.[17] On 2 January 1962, a PIA Boeing 720B flown by Captain Abdullah Baig from London to Karachi established a world record for speed over a commercial airline route of 938.78 km/h (582.98 mph), a record which still holds to this day.[28] Fokker F27 Friendships, and Sikorsky helicopters were also ordered and delivered in 1963, with the helicopters used to provide air service to 20 towns in East Pakistan until 1966.[17][29]

The helicopters were retired in 1966 and a reduced network of eight cities was served by Fokker F27 aircraft.[29] Upon the establishment of ties between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China, PIA started flying the Dhaka-Canton-Shanghai route on 29 April 1964, becoming the first airline of a non-communist country flying to the People's Republic of China.[30][17] On 10 May 1964, PIA became the first non-Soviet airline offering flights to Europe via Moscow.[17]

At the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Pakistani Armed Forces used PIA's services for logistics and transport purposes. The Viscounts were phased out in 1966 and were replaced by four Hawker Siddeley Tridents.

PIA's route grew rapidly in the mid to late 1960s: Dhahran was added in 1965, while Cairo services resumed. In 1966, Paris, Istanbul, Baghdad, Kuwait, Jeddah and Nairobi were added to PIA's routes. Bangkok was added in 1967, while Manila, Tokyo, and Damascus were added in 1969.[17]

1970s

 
PIA Fokker F27 Friendship at Chitral Airport arriving from Peshawar on 1 August 1972[31]
 
A PIA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 taking off from Frankfurt Airport, West Germany, circa 1977

On 3 December 1971, a French national's attempt to hijack a PIA flight from Paris to Karachi was thwarted by French security forces.[32] Transatlantic flights to New York City were resumed in May 1972 with a stopover in Europe.[27] With the establishment of cordial ties between the Libyan and Pakistani governments in the early 1970s, PIA added Tripoli to its network in 1972. PIA also signed an agreement with Yugoslav airline JAT in 1972 to lease two PIA Boeing 707s to JAT.[33]

PIA acquired McDonnell Douglas DC-10s in 1973 to replace its remaining Boeing 707-300s. Nur Khan was appointed as PIA executive for the second term in 1974.[27] In 1974, PIA launched Pakistan International Cargo, offering air freight and cargo services.

The latter half of the decade witnessed a further expansion of PIA's fleet with the introduction of Boeing 747s, with its first two aircraft leased from TAP Air Portugal in 1976.[34] By 1976–7, PIA carried 2.2 million passengers, compared to 698,000 in 1972–3.[35] Revenues in 1976 rose sharply compared to 1975, with the airline revenues of $134 million in the July–December period of 1976.[36] On 20 January 1978, a PIA Fokker 27 was hijacked en route to Karachi from Sukkur.[37]

For the first time since its inauguration, PIA started providing technical and administrative assistance or leased aircraft to foreign airlines including Air China,[38] Air Malta,[38] Choson Minhang,[39] Philippine Airlines,[40] Somali Airlines,[41] and Yemenia.[41] A subsidiary of PIA also started providing hotel management services in the United Arab Emirates towards the end of the decade. Political upheaval in Pakistan in the late 1970s began to impact PIA's operations negatively.[42]

1980s

The 1980s saw a continuation of PIA growth. The decade began with the opening of a cargo handling centre at Karachi airport, duty-free shops, the first C and D safety checks on its entire fleet, as well as the introduction of the airline's first Airbus A300B4-200 aircraft. In 1981, PIA had an employee workforce of almost 24,000, which despite being reduced to 20,000 by 1983 still resulted in PIA having the world's highest ratio of employees to aircraft.[42] PIA's operations became increasingly de-centralized during the early 1980s, with responsibilities being split between new departments.[42] Despite de-centralization, PIA reported its highest ever profits in 1981–2,[43] followed by record profits again in 1983–4.[44]

In 1984, the airline introduced the Night-Coach service as a low-cost alternative to day-time domestic flights. In the following years, PIA Planetarium was inaugurated in Karachi which was followed by planetariums in Lahore and Peshawar. These planetariums featured retired PIA aircraft on display for educational or observational purposes. Two more retired Boeing 720B aircraft were donated to the planetariums in Karachi and Lahore later on. PIA profits again rose in 1984–5.[45]

In June 1985, PIA became the first Asian airline to operate the Boeing 737-300 aircraft, after six of the aircraft were delivered.[46] Pakistan International Airlines also played a significant role in establishing UAE's Emirates airline in 1985 by providing technical and administrative assistance to the new carrier as well as leasing a new Boeing 737–300 and an Airbus A300B4-200.[7] In late 1987 and early 1988, services to Malé, Manchester, and Toronto were introduced.[47]

1990s

 
A PIA Airbus A300 at Fiumicino Airport, Italy circa 1991
 
PIA Boeing 747 Combi taxiing at London's London Heathrow International Airport in June 1992

PIA began to sustain operating losses and liquidity problems throughout the 1990s due to frequent pilot strikes, issues with various vendors, over-staffing, and political interference in airline management.[48] In 1990, First Officer Maliha Sami became the first female pilot of PIA when she took off on the Karachi-Panjgur-Turbat-Gwadar route.[49] In June 1991, PIA took delivery of its first of six Airbus A310-300s. With the new aircraft, the airline introduced flights to Tashkent in 1992 and to Zürich in 1993.

In March 1993, AVM Farooq Umar became managing director of the airline. An Open Skies agreement between Karachi to Dubai was agreed upon in 1993, and 12 private airlines were allowed to operate domestically in Pakistan. Both steps came simultaneously and put enormous pressure on PIA's financial performance, though PIA launched six new routes to the Persian Gulf and CIS countries, along with a tourist 'Air Safari' scenic flight over the Karakoram Mountains in 1994. Non-stop flights from Lahore and Islamabad to JFK and Canada were launched, while PIA added Jakarta, Fujairah, Baku, and Al-Ain to its network in 1994. In addition, PIA became a client of three flight-reservation systems, namely: Sabre, Galileo, and Amadeus.

A Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft was also leased briefly in 1996 to cope with a surge in passenger traffic during summer 1996. Flights to Beirut were resumed the same year as well before being discontinued a few years later. In 1999, PIA leased five Boeing 747–300 aircraft from Cathay Pacific to replace its Boeing 747-200M fleet. The aircraft were painted with a new livery, a handwork Pashmina tail, on white body and large Pakistan titles on the front fuselage. The livery was adopted in the early 90s but due to some copyright issues, it was dropped. The Boeing 747-300s continued to bear the new livery, but with a plain green tail with PIA titles. The other aircraft in the fleet were repainted in early 1990s livery.

2000s

 
 
PIA Boeing 777-200ER taking off from Manchester Airport, circa 2006

The War in Afghanistan following the attacks on 11 September 2001 negatively impacted PIA's operations as Afghan airspace was closed.[48] However, following the restructuring of the airline under new management in April 2001, the airline again became profitable.[48] Cost per employee dropped 24% between 2000 and 2003, and lower engineering and maintenance costs led to enhanced airline revenue.[48]

In July 2002, PIA purchased six Boeing 747–300 aircraft from Cathay Pacific, five of which were already on lease. The sixth one arrived shortly afterwards and was used mainly on its North American and European routes. In October 2002, after ten years without any new orders, the airline placed an order for eight Boeing 777 aircraft. The order included all three variants of 777, i.e. three 777-200ER (Extended Range), two 777-200LR (Longer Range), and three 777-300ER versions. PIA was the launch customer that revived the Boeing 777-200LR project that, until then, only had three orders.

Boeing delivered the first of three 777-200ER aircraft to PIA in January 2004, and PIA introduced a new livery for the 777-200ERs that was applied to most of its fleet. PIA also leased six more Airbus A310-300 aircraft directly from Airbus. On 3 November 2005, PIA placed an order to purchase seven ATR 42-500 aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Fokker F27 Friendships. On 10 November 2005, PIA used the 777-200LR to fly the world's longest flight by a commercial airliner, flying over 21,000 kilometres on an eastbound flight from Hong Kong to London for 22 hours and 22 minutes[10] – a record which still stands as of late 2019.[11] On 6 December 2005, PIA acquired another new Boeing 777-200ER on a ten-year lease. The same year, Ayesha Rabia Naveed became the first woman to captain a scheduled commercial flight.[50] The following year, she captained a flight with the first all-woman crew.[50] On 23 December 2006, PIA took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER. The remaining aircraft were delivered in January 2007.

On 25 February 2006, Boeing delivered its first 777-200LR to PIA. ATR delivered two of the seven ordered ATR 42s to PIA in May and December 2006 respectively, following which the airline ceased using military Lockheed C-130 Hercules for passenger services in northern areas of Pakistan. The military aircraft were being used after the PIA Flight 688 accident.

With the induction of long-range 777 aircraft in its fleet, PIA started offering non-stop flights from Toronto to Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore from 3 March 2006. PIA had also planned non-stop flights to New York City, Chicago, Washington, and Houston but was not permitted by US authorities (unless the airline implemented a European stopover on the flight to American cities) due to security concerns after 9/11.

A PIA flight from Multan crashed in July 2006, killing 45. A government inquiry afterward blamed aging aircraft for the crash.[51] Houston services also ended in 2006. Following the crash, on 5 March 2007, the European Commission banned all but 9 of PIA's 42-strong fleet from flying to Europe, citing safety concerns over its ageing aircraft.[52][53] The fleet of Boeing 777s was exempted from the ban,[54] but 15 aircraft were over 20 years old by this point.[55] PIA claimed that the ban was discriminatory and unjustifiable.

The ban on some of the aircraft was lifted after four months on 5 July 2007, following an inspection by the European Union Air Safety Administration. Of the eleven aircraft allowed to resume operations to the EU, five were Boeing 747-300s, and the remaining six were Airbus A310-300s. On 29 November 2007, the EU completely removed the ban, and PIA's entire fleet was permitted to fly to Europe.[56]

2010s

 
PIA ATR 42-500 in a Balochistan province tail livery on 14 November 2011

In 2010, PIA altered its livery. The tail design was replaced with a much larger version of the Pakistan national flag and added the text "Pakistan International" in gold writing underneath the large billboard-style PIA on the fuselage. The green stripe was modified to include gold and was extended to the rear of the fuselage.

By 2011, PIA began to be unprofitable again, requiring government subsidies.[57]

In 2014, PIA leased four Boeing 737-800s. PIA also issued a request for tender for four Boeing 777-300ERs, however, the bids for the 777s were not accepted. The airline did lease Airbus A320 aircraft and inducted two A320-214s in its fleet in 2014. Another wet-leased A320-211s joined PIA on 11 August 2014. In October 2014, the airline again wet-leased three Boeing 737-800s, and it also accepted bids to dry lease five ATR 72–500s for eight years. In 2015, after serving PIA for 16 years, the last of PIA's Boeing 747-300s were phased out.

In early 2016, PIA was fundamentally grounded for an entire week as employees walked out en masse following the deaths of two employees in a demonstration against the airline's privatization.[58] In August 2016, PIA launched a new "Premier Service" for flights to London, using an Airbus A330-300 wet-leased from SriLankan Airlines.[59] The wet-lease period ended after six months, and as a result, the A330-300 was returned to SriLankan Airlines,[60] and the Premier Service discontinued. By the end of 2016, the airline was saddled with $3 billion in debt.[58]

In January 2017, PIA retired all of the Airbus A310-300s from its fleet. For replacement, PIA leased four Boeing 737-800s from Pegasus Airlines, which were returned later on completion of the lease period. After over 50 years of service, PIA service to New York ended in October 2017 as a result of TSA regulation preventing nonstop flights from Pakistan and the US,[61] leaving Toronto as PIA's only destination in North America – which continues to be served by nonstop flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

In 2017, PIA decided to replace its reservation and ticketing system "Sabre" with a Turkish-origin system called "Hitit". Both PIA & Hitit signed an agreement and in September 2018, the airline successfully switched to the new system.[62][63] At the end of 2018, the airline was burdened with $3.3 billion in debt, up from $2.97 the year before, and thus requiring government bailouts for continued operation.[64] With the demise of Shaheen Air, PIA launched routes that had previously been served only by Shaheen.[61]

New profitable routes were launched in 2019,[65] while profitable routes such as Karachi-Toronto saw increased frequencies.[66] six unprofitable routes were discontinued in 2019.[67] In April 2019, PIA claimed that its revenues almost matched operating costs.[68] Later that year following a visit of TSA officials to the Islamabad International Airport in July 2019, PIA expressed hope that non-stop flights to the US would be permitted.[69] In August 2019, PIA laid off 1,000 "redundant employees."[70] In September, PIA announced that it would lease additional aircraft to increase the airline's fleet to 37 by 2020,[71] and 45 by 2023.[72] By the end of 2019, PIA reported a 41% increase in year-on-year revenue due to discontinuation of unprofitable routes, reintroduction of grounded aircraft, and a sharp increase in cargo-space utilization.[73]

2020s

For the first time in its history, PIA operated a relief flight from Lahore to Melbourne, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.[74]

On 22 May 2020, a PIA Airbus A320-214 AP-BLD, crashed near Karachi airport with 99 people on board. The flight was en route to Karachi from Lahore. Flight PK8303, carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members on board, crashed while on the descent towards the runway of Jinnah International Airport, killing 97 while two passengers survived. The cause of the crash is unknown, pending an inquiry.[75] The International Air Transport Association (IATA) communicated concerns over the "serious lapse in licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator".[76]

In November 2020, PIA shut down its courier arm, SpeedEx, whose infrastructure was scattered over 74 domestic destinations, and laid off its 320 employees.[77]

In December 2020, PIA announced a plan to lay off half of its employees and transferred its engineering arm, Precision Engineering Complex (PEC), to the Pakistan Air Force.[77]

Pilot licensing scandal

On 24 June, Pakistani aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told Parliament that 262 of Pakistan's 860 active, licensed pilots had been found to have suspicious or fake licences. They were suspected of having paid someone else to take their certification examination on their behalf. PIA subsequently grounded 150 of its 434 pilots on suspicion of having a bogus license.[78][79][80] Later, the employment of seven pilots was terminated.[81]

On 30 June, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) revoked PIA's 'third part authorisation', subsequently banning PIA from flying in European airspace for six months from the following day,[82] following multiple safety failings.

On 9 July 2020, the United States banned the airline because of concerns about its certification of pilots.[83] By that date, PIA was also banned from flights in the United Kingdom, and Pakistani pilots in Vietnam and Malaysia were grounded on a temporary basis.[84] Reports on 16 July 2020 stated that the US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Pakistan's air safety rating to category 2. This decision "means no Pakistani airlines can establish new services to the United States or codeshare with US airlines".[85]

On 18 July, PIA dismissed seven pilots and one member of cabin crew whose licences had been revoked by the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).[86]

On 28 December, the EU ban was extended for three more months, stating that an official inspection of the CAA would have to be performed first.[87] On 16 March 2021, the ban was extended to July.[88] Less than a month later, the ban was extended indefinitely, following another safety concern regarding the CAA that was made public by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO has yet to perform safety audit of the CAA.[89] The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) stated that the ICAO's safety audit would be a sign of improvement.[90]

On 6 November 2021, the first sign of improvement appeared when the CAA received positive feedback from Europe's Safety Audit for Foreign-Origin Aircraft (SAFA).[91][92]

As reported in the Express Tribune on August 28, 2021, the European Union officials had requested evacuation support from Pakistani authorities as the window for airlifting was narrowing. The member states had so far evacuated the bulk of their diplomatic corps and local staff from Kabul. On August 30, 2021, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane carrying desperately needed medical supplies landed in Afghanistan, the World Health Organization said, the first such flight since the Taliban took control of the country two weeks prior.[citation needed]

Corporate management

Structure

 
Pakistan International Airlines' regional office, located in Lahore

Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) is majority-owned by the Government of Pakistan (86%) while the remainder (14%) is owned by private shareholders. The airline is under the administration of Aviation Division and is managed by a president and chief executive officer as well as the board of directors.

The board consists of nine independent non-executive members and has four sub-committees: an Audit Committee, Brand and Advertising Committee, Finance Committee, and Human Resource Committee, each having its charter and chairman. The president and chief executive officer leads the executive management of staff who run the airline. The airline's main headquarters are located at Karachi,[93] while smaller subhead offices are located in several cities within Pakistan.

Seven of PIA's ten departments are in Islamabad, viz, Marketing Department, Procedure Bureau, Central Reservation Control, Revenue Management, HR and Security and Vigilance Department.[94] The remaining three departments are in Karachi, namely finance, engineering and situation room.[94]

Privatization

In the late 1990s, the Government of Pakistan announced privatisation plans due to the persistent losses suffered by the airline, but they were never implemented; however, several steps towards the outsourcing of non-core businesses were initiated. Catering units (starting with Karachi Flight Kitchen), ground handling (starting with ramp services) and engineering, are to gradually leave the airline and operate as independent companies. In 1997, Pakistan called in a team from International Finance (IFC), the consulting arm of the World Bank, to advise on restructuring and privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). However, no agreement was reached.[95] Despite the government's multiple privatisation plans, on 18 February 2009, the carrier was dropped from the privatisation list.[96]

In 2013, the Government of Pakistan once again aimed to privatise the airline due to increased losses by selling twenty-six percent of shares and management control to the investor. This plan was dropped due to protests by airline unions and associations after security forces killed two employees approaching the Jinnah International Airport terminal building.

In 2018, the newly elected government aimed to not privatise the entity and instead achieve profitability through the change in its top management.[97]

Financial performance

In 2011, PIA began to be unprofitable, requiring government subsidies.[57] By the end of 2016, the airline was saddled with $3 billion in debt.[58] At the end of 2018, the airline was burdened with $3.3 billion in debt, up from $2.97 the year before, and thus requiring government bailouts for continued operation.[64] In April 2019, PIA claimed that its revenues almost matched operating costs.[68] An audit in September 2019 revealed that PIA had operated 46 empty flights between 2016 and 2017, without any passengers causing a loss of $1.1 million to the airline. Additionally, 36 Hajj flights were flown without any passengers.[98] By the end of 2019, PIA reported a 41% increase in year-on-year revenue due to discontinuation of unprofitable routes, reintroduction of idle aircraft, and a sharp increase in the airline cargo space utilization.[73]

The airline faces many challenges to its profitability. PIA is considered one of the cheapest airlines.[99] Pakistan faces what has been termed "capacity dumping" by Middle East airlines, who operate numerous daily flights to every major city in Pakistan.[61] Pakistan's Open Skies Agreement with the UAE, for example, allows Emirati airlines an unlimited number of seats into Karachi, with Emirates airline alone operating up to seven daily flights to Karachi from Dubai on high-capacity Boeing 777s.[61] PIA also discontinued previously profitable routes to the US, as the TSA forbade nonstop flights from Pakistan to the US, and instead required costly diversions to European airports for immigration clearance – resulting in flight times that were significantly longer than flights on Middle Eastern airlines.[61] New routes such as to Najaf and Thailand also did not improve the airline's finances given the seasonality of those destinations.[61] Further, staffing levels and overall management issues, including an employee count of 18,014 in 2010 for a fleet of 40 aircraft,[100][101] present further challenges – although in August 2019, PIA laid off 1,000 "redundant employees."[70]

Revenues
Year Revenues (PKR in million) Profit/(loss) (PKR in million) Employees (ave.)
2021 27,641 (25,013) [102]
2020 94,989 (34,643) [103]
2019 147,500 (52,602) [104]
2018 65,723 (48,000) 13,000 approx.
2017 90,844 (44,110)
2016 88,997 (45,381) 14,000 approx.[105]
2015 104,515 (34,995) 15,000
2014 113,780 (34,006) 16,000
2013 95,771 (44,322) 16,604
2012 97,438 (33,844) 17,439
2011 116,551 (26,767) 18,014
2010 107,532 (20,785) 18,019
2009 94,564 (5,822) 17,944
2008 88,863 (36,139) 18,036
2007 70,481 (13,399) 18,149
2006 70,587 (12,763) 18,282
2005 64,074 (4,412) 19,263
2004 57,788 2,307 19,634

In 2010, PIA carried 1,454,000 kg of mail – in 2013, PIA managed just 648,000 kg of mail. Additionally, PIA's revenue from excess baggage, passenger load factor, and passenger-kilometre flow have been declining steadily.[106]

Passenger traffic
Year Revenue passengers (million) Passenger loadfFactor Average passenger stage distance (statute KM)
2014  4,202 72 2,833
2013  4,449 70 2,751
2012  5.236 70 2,650
2011  5.953 72 2,631
2010  5.538 74 2,827
2009  5.535 70 2,510
2008  5.617 71 2,479
2007  5.415 67 2,527
2006  5.732 69 2,639
2005 5.499 70 2,638

In 2011, about 81% of revenue was from passenger traffic and only 5% from cargo. Another 7.8% was from food and beverage sales. The remaining 6% was from various sources such as excess baggage charges, air charter services, aircraft maintenance engineering services, ground handling and related services, and carriage of mail.[101]

Destinations

As of November 2019, PIA serves 19 domestic and 24 international destinations in 16 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

PIA with its Interline agreements and codeshare partner airlines, offers a wider choice of travel in 102 international destinations in 40 countries across the world with different flight connections.

Codeshare agreements

PIA has Codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[107][108]

Interline agreements

PIA have Interline agreements with the following airlines:[107]

Cargo SPA agreements

PIA have Cargo Special Pro-rate Agreements with the following airlines: [109]

Fleet

Current fleet

As of August 2022, the Pakistan International Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[110][111][112]

Pakistan International Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y+ Y Total
Airbus A320-200 16 8 150 158 Two aircraft painted in retro 1960 livery.
180 180
Boeing 777-200ER 6 35 294 329 One aircraft painted in a 1960s retro livery.
Could be phased out by 2024. Business class to be phased out in three aircraft.[113][114][115]
25 319
Boeing 777-200LR 4 35 275 310 Launch customer.[9]
Could be phased out by 2024. To be refurbished.[114][116][115]
Boeing 777-300ER 4 35 358 393 Older aircraft could be phased out by 2024.
Business class to be phased out in two aircraft.[117][114][115]
ATR 42-500 4 48 48
ATR 72-500 4 70 70 Two aircraft in storage.[118]
Total 36

Former fleet

 
PIA Douglas DC-8-21, leased in 1977–1978
 
PIA Airbus A310-300 landed at Germany, Frankfurt Airport, 25 April 2004
 
PIA Airbus A321 taking off from Islamabad Airport (2006)
 
PIA Boeing 747–300 taking off from the Multan International Airport for a Hajj flight, 28 October 2010
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A300B4-200 11 1980 2005 AP-BCP written off as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268
Airbus A310-300 12 1991 2016
Airbus A321-200 2 2006 2007
Airbus A330-300 1 2016 2017[59]
ATR 72-500 2 2015 2020[119] Two aircraft in storage.[120]
Boeing 707-320C 13 1960 1999 One written off as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 740.
Boeing 720B 9 1962 1986 One written off as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705.
Boeing 737–300 8 1985 2014
Boeing 737–400 2 2004 2005
Boeing 737–800 4 2014 2015
Boeing 747-200B 6 1976 2005
Boeing 747-200B Combi 2 1979 2011
Boeing 747-300 6 1999 2015 Bought from Cathay Pacific
Convair CV-240 4 1947 1959
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 8 1970 2001
Douglas DC-3 15 1947 1967
Douglas DC-8-21F 1 1977 1978
Douglas DC-61CF 1 1977 1978
Fokker F27-200 Friendship 24 1961 2006 One went missing as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 404. Another one crashed as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688.
Fokker F27-400 Friendship 1 1961 2003
Fokker F27-600 Friendship 5 1966 1986
Hiller UH-12E4 1 1963 1971
Hawker Siddeley Trident 1E 4 1966 1970
Lockheed L-100-382B-4C Hercules 2 1966 1966
Lockheed L-1049C Super Constellation 3 1954 1969
Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation 2 1958 1969
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 5 1974 1986
Mil Mi-8 MTV-1 1 1995 1997
Sikorsky S-61N 4 1963 1967
Tupolev Tu-154 4 1996 1997
Vickers Viscount 815 5 1956 1966

Livery

 
PIA's 1980s legacy tail, which became an identity for the airline

In December 2003, PIA introduced a new image that was applied to its first Boeing 777-200ER and on two newly leased Airbus A310s, one of which was in service. The livery was white at the front and beige at the rear separated by a dark green stripe. The tail was painted white with a new typeface PIA acronym written in dark green. The Pakistan title was added to the front fuselage in all raised letters and the engine cowlings were painted in beige. The PIA logo written in calligraphic Urdu was added just behind the cockpit. However, due to criticism, the design was modified before the first Boeing 777 was delivered. The tail logo was replaced by a flowing Pakistan flag on a beige background. The "Pakistan" titles were removed and the PIA acronym was enlarged and moved onto the fuselage. The English and Urdu PIA titles remained the same. The leased A310s and most of the PIA fleet also adopted this livery at a later date.

 
A PIA Boeing 747–300 painted in a Frontier livery

In early 2006, the airline launched four new tail designs for its fleet. The tails represented the four provinces of Pakistan: Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The tails promoted the cultures of the four provinces of Pakistan by applying motifs to the tails and adding a city name to the rear of the fuselage corresponding to the province. The "Frontier" tail represented the "Phulkari" (flowering) pattern, which reflected a tradition of embroidery generally done on shawls, shirts, and linen. The "Punjab" tail was loosely related to the tile decoration of the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. The "Balochistan" tail showed the creativity seen in the local kilims, carpets, and rugs woven with wool, goat or camel hair and mixed yarn. The pattern was mostly bold geometric motifs in primary colours dominated by red. The "Sindh" tail was influenced by the Hala tile work with electric blue and white floral patterns. In 2009, management stopped the application of provincial tails, deeming them too costly.

PIA launched its new livery in mid April 2010. An Airbus A310, Boeing 777–200 and Boeing 747–300 were the first aircraft to wear the new look. The livery was unveiled at the PIA headquarters on a Boeing 777 model. The livery consisted of a green and gold strip running around the bottom of the fuselage and continuing right up until the tail cone. The forward/upper portion was white and at the rear, it was an off-white/beige colour. The bottom part of the tail blended into the upper fuselage as it too is white, with the rest of the tail painted with a large wavy Pakistan flag, which takes up the whole tail, in a dark green colour. At the front of the fuselage, 'PIA' was written in a billboard style in dark green and underneath 'Pakistan' was written in golden colour. Just behind the cockpit, there is a stylised Urdu PIA logo as well as on the engines.

In July 2014, on the delivery of the first A320 series aircraft, PIA introduced a "crescent and star" on the aircraft engines' cowlings in place of the Urdu PIA logo. In 2015, after the completion of sixty years service, the 1960s livery was applied to three of the Airbus A320s and on one Boeing 777-200ER.

 
In 2018, Pakistan's national animal Markhor was chosen to be introduced as the brand identity on aircraft tail. However, later the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu action and barred PIA from using the Markhor as brand identity; only one Airbus A320 was painted in the livery.

In April 2018, PIA formally launched a new brand identity and livery and added a portrait of the Markhor in a ceremony held at PIA Offices in Islamabad, presented by the then head of brand of PIA, having Pakistan's national animal represented on its aircraft, including a large one on the tail and two on the engines, describing the resilient nature of PIA Brand surviving under the onslaught of all the negativity associated with the brand.

 
Logo of PIA with Kashmiri Markhor depicted, used in 2018

The symbol of animal was chosen for its universal recognition as the Urdu calligraphy logo of PIA could not be comprehended by non-Pakistani customers. In essence the idea was to make PIA a truly international brand based on the values of resilience, grace and fortitude, something which PIA had lost with increased focus on ethnic traffic. The tail had a forward leaping Markhor having long screw horns, which are the features of 'Kashmiri Markhor' endemic to Pakistan only. According to the initial plan, a euro-white style was chosen and existing green and golden strips were removed from the aircraft fuselage along with off-white/beige colour on the rear fuselage, but later a major rebranding was carried out. The font of the PIA logo was also changed and added to the fuselage. For the first time, legacy PIA colours (Pakistan green and mustard gold) were dropped and a blue texture was added in the "PIA" acronym expanding the colour palette for the brand. Urdu PIA logo colour was also changed from the yellow-green gradient texture. The airline's slogan was also changed to "We Fly at the Right Attitude" from "Great People to Fly With". The first aircraft with the redesigned livery was converted on 12 May 2018 and rolled out of Isphani Hangar by the method of decals to make a debut at the New Islamabad International Airport.[121][122] The re-branding was halted on Suo Moto Notice taken by Supreme Court of Pakistan on fears of spending millions on the rebranding and not paying the salary of the staff on time. The Supreme Court of Pakistan suo motu notice barred PIA from using the Markhor logo as its brand identity. Supreme Court later gave orders to retain the flag on the tail and disposed off the case. However, with management change, the re-branding was abandoned altogether.[123][124] Currently, the airline is operating a hybrid livery which features a euro-white fuselage and gold Urdu logo in-front of the front exits and engine cowling while the flag tail, English PIA (and Pakistan International in gold) titles in dark green and Pakistan titles in dark green on the belly have been retained from the 2010 livery. The PIA corporate website was also added ahead of the aft exits. Currently, five Boeing 777s and three A320s are sporting this livery.

Services

Cabin

PIA operates a three-class configuration on its domestic routes: Business Class, Executive Economy and Economy. On international flights, a two-class configuration (Executive Economy and Economy class) has been introduced since January 2019. PIA has retained Business class-only on domestic flights operated by Boeing 777s. PIA Business and Executive Economy passengers are offered recliner seats on all Boeing 777 aircraft. Seats with more legroom and vacant middle seat are offered in Executive Economy on board the Airbus A320 aircraft. In Economy class, all passengers on the Boeing 777 are offered seats with 30-inch legroom and personal entertainment screens in a 3-3-3 configuration. On the Airbus A320, fabric-covered seats in a 3–3 configuration are offered.

Catering

PIA Catering is the main supplier of meals for the airline at Islamabad and Karachi. It can produce 15,000 passenger meals each day. In 2006, the management of the flight kitchens was given to Singapore Air Terminal Services (SATS). This agreement ended in 2011 and PIA is managing the Flight Kitchens in Karachi and Islamabad itself. As of April 2019, an MOU was signed between PIA and McDonald's for the airlines catering. PIA Catering provides special meals to allow for passengers' dietary and religious needs. No alcoholic beverages or pork are served on board due to Islamic dietary laws.[125]

PIA Premier service

PIA Premier was launched as a luxury air service on 14 August 2016. An Airbus A330 aircraft was initially wet-leased from SriLankan Airlines to operate the service.[59] There were six weekly flights to London, three each from Islamabad and Lahore.[126]

In-flight magazine

The PIA in-flight magazine, Humsafar (Urdu for "travel companion"), is provided to all passengers on all international flights. Humsafar was introduced in 1980 and is printed and published bi-monthly.

In-flight entertainment

Pakistan International Airlines was the first international airline to introduce entertainment system showing a regularly scheduled film on board in the year 1962.[127][128]

In-flight Internet

In January 2017, the airline began trials on an on-board internet system to deliver in-flight entertainment on some domestic flights. The system allows passengers to access a selection of in-flight entertainment content using their own mobile devices.[129] PIA offers personal screens on Boeing 777 flights with in-flight movies, music and TV shows. The Boeing 777 IFE also features an inflight map and air show. Selected A320s feature drop-down screens with in-flight map and air-show.

Frequent flyer program

PIA Awards Plus+ is the frequent flyer program. The program allows passengers to get free tickets, excess baggage vouchers, cabin upgrades, and a variety of rewards, special deals, and discounts. Awards Plus+ has three tiers of membership – Emerald, Sapphire, and Diamond. Awards Plus+ miles can be earned by flying PIA and by using the products and services of PIA's partners.

Precision Engineering Complex

The Precision Engineering Complex (PEC) includes the following facilities:

  • Binocular Assembly
  • Calibration Facility
  • Glass Fibre Composite Manufacturing
  • Investment Casting Facility
  • Machine Shop
  • Material Testing Laboratory
  • Non Destructive Testing Facility
  • Optics
  • Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)
  • Plating Facilities
  • Packaging Plant
  • Shot Peening[130]

Ground handling

PIA provides ground handling services to the following airlines:

Cargo operations

 
PIA Boeing 707C operating Cargo aircraft taxiing at Charles de Gaulle Airport, France on 14 August 1994

PIA operates a cargo delivery system within Pakistan. PIA Cargo transports goods across Pakistan as well as to international destinations. These goods include meat and vegetables, textiles, paper products, laboratory equipment and postal mail.

During the early 1970s, PIA operated a service called Air Express that delivered documents and parcels within Pakistan. In 1974, PIA launched a dedicated cargo division within its organisation using two Boeing 707-320C. This division was known as Pakistan International Cargo. The airline operated several cargo flights to the Middle East such as Dubai and Europe, especially London. The operations ended in the late 1990s when both aircraft were phased out. During 2004 to 2007, the airline again operated two Airbus A300 Freighter aircraft chartered through MNG Airlines to Haan. Luton, Amsterdam, Basel and Cologne. However, again the contract ended and PIA discontinued this service.

In 2003, the airline launched PIA Speedex, a courier service initially in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. This expanded to twelve cities within a year. Today, the airline serves over 70 locations within Pakistan, with shipments collected and delivered from customers homes.

In 2019, the new PIA management experienced a sharp increase in the airline's cargo space utilization, from 20 percent to almost 80 percent.[73]

PIA currently offers cargo service for these international destinations: Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Barcelona, Birmingham, ChinaBeijing, Copenhagen, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kabul, Kuala Lumpur, London, Manchester, Medina, Milan, Muscat, Najaf, Oslo, Paris, Riyadh, Sharjah, TokyoNarita and TorontoCanada.[132]

Corporate sponsorship

The airline has sponsored events, both within Pakistan and in its overseas markets.

In the 1990s, the airline launched the three green stripe livery to represent its support for sports. The airline supports the Pakistan International Airlines first-class cricket team that plays in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and Patron's Trophy. PIA sponsors the PIA football club, and the A1 Team Pakistan in the A1 Grand Prix open-wheel auto racing series when it was initially launched. The airline also promotes the Shandur Polo Gala, that takes place every year in the Chitral and Gilgit regions of northern Pakistan during the summer period.[133] PIA has had its own Sports Division since 1958, promoting sports within Pakistan such as cricket, hockey, football, squash, polo, tennis, bridge, chess, table tennis, cycling, and bodybuilding.

PIA has its own Boy Scouts Association (PIA-BSA), working in partnership with Pakistan Boy Scouts Association. After a devastating earthquake in 2005, PIA-BSA worked in partnership with other charity organisations to provide relief help.

PIA was one of the official sponsors of the "Destination Pakistan 2007" festivals. The official logo was added to a select number of aircraft during the year.[134] In 2008, PIA teamed up with mobile phone provider, Ufone to provide air miles to passengers who used the mobile network. Standard Chartered Bank and PIA launched credit cards allowing passengers to earn air miles.[135] In 2009, PIA was the gold sponsor for Logistics Pakistan, an Exhibition and Conference poised to highlight the emerging opportunities for the Logistics sector in Pakistan. In 2009, PIA and the Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) formed a strategic alliance to promote world money transfers.[136]

PIA has Planetariums in Karachi and Lahore that enable the public to see static aircraft as well as astronomy shows. PIA Horticulture, set up in 1996, provides flowers for display in PIA's offices and events, winning awards and accolades at flower exhibitions across the country. The airline supports non-profit organisations within Pakistan such as Al-Shifa Trust, Zindagi Trust, The Citizens Foundation, and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation.[137] In 2009, PIA teamed up with the fast-food franchise McDonald's, to offer passengers discounts on meals and upgrades.[138] PIA also owns three hotels, the Roosevelt Hotel, the Scribe Hotel and Skyrooms (Private) Limited.[139] The airline also has an agreement with Pearl Continental Hotels for its UAE based passengers.[140]

Charter and special services

State officials transportation

 
Callsign "PAKISTAN 001" carrying the President on PIA's Boeing 707. Photographed at Munich Airport in West Germany, circa 1961.

PIA has been continuously serving government officials of Pakistan and has always transported the President and Prime Minister on overseas visits. During the late 1990s, a PIA Boeing 737–300[141][better source needed] was used for official visits by the Bhutto and Sharif governments. The aircraft wore official government colours but was later repainted in the airline official colours at the end of the decade. When the government changed after a military coup in 1999, the Boeing 737–300 was transferred to PIA permanently. The President and Prime Minister then resorted to using two of PIA's Airbus A310-300s for official visits, while rare trips were done on regular commercial flights of the airline. In February 2007 the government of Qatar gifted an Airbus A310 from its VIP fleet[142][better source needed] to the Pakistani government; this ended the need for the use of PIA aircraft. However, from time to time the government uses one of the airline's Airbus A320s, or occasionally a Boeing 777, for official trips.[143]

Charter services

PIA operates private charter flights using ATR 42s to Bhit, Kadanwari and Sehwan Sharif in Sindh as well as to other parts of the country for oil and gas companies and other customers. Ad hoc charters for United Nations peacekeeping troops are also carried out to Africa and Eastern Europe, Asia (South Korea, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, East Timor) and many other international destinations; PIA Charter Team provides these services.

Hajj and Umrah operations

PIA operates a two-month (pre- and post-) Hajj operation each year to and from Saudi Arabia. PIA transported over 100,000 intending pilgrims each year to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until its fleet shrank to 25 aircraft in 2011–2012. Since then, the airline's Hajj quota was reduced to 60,00 to 70,000 pilgrims by the then government.

Special services

A PIA plane carrying desperately needed medical supplies landed in Afghanistan on Monday,[when?] the World Health Organisation said, the first such flight since the Taliban took control of the country two weeks prior. He[who?] further thanked Pakistan for providing the Boeing 777 plane for the delivery. It was the first of three flights planned with PIA, and the WHO said it was working to ensure "this week's shipment is the first of many". PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arshad Malik said it was the national flag carrier's "moral responsibility" to help people in Afghanistan. "PIA will continue humanitarian missions on the instructions of the Pakistan government and the aviation minister," he said in a statement.[144]

PIA Township

PIA Township
پی آئی اے ٹاؤن شپ
PIA Colony
Township
 
Front south entrance
Coordinates: 24°53′25.5″N 67°08′27.8″E / 24.890417°N 67.141056°E / 24.890417; 67.141056
CountryPakistan
ProvinceSindh
DivisionKarachi
DistrictEast Karachi
NeighbourhoodPakistan Civil Aviation Authority
Established1960s[citation needed]
Area
 • Total0.20 km2 (0.08 sq mi)
Elevation
20.4 m (66.8 ft)
Population
 (2020)[citation needed]
 • Total~7,000
 • Density35,000/km2 (90,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5 (PST)
Postal code
75290
Area code34

PIA Township (Urdu: پی آئی اے ٹاؤن شپ), commonly known as PIA Colony, is Pakistan International Airlines' flat complex which is a major residential gated community located in Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority in Karachi. The township was built for PIA employees. It has 1,176 flats. It is next to the Jinnah International Airport.

PIA Model Secondary School

PIA Model Secondary School
Location
 
Karachi, Sindh

Pakistan
Coordinates24°53′25.5″N 67°08′27.8″E / 24.890417°N 67.141056°E / 24.890417; 67.141056Coordinates: 24°53′25.5″N 67°08′27.8″E / 24.890417°N 67.141056°E / 24.890417; 67.141056
Information
TypeSecondary
Established1980
PresidentRashid Zaffer
DeanRashid Amin Dar
PrincipalShagufta Hamid
Head of schoolWing Cdr (R) Raheel Ahmed
GradesPrep to 10
Enrollment1500[145]
Color(s)Green
AffiliationBSE
Websitehttps://piamodelsecondaryschool.business.site/

PIA Model Secondary School (PIAMSS), also known as PIA Model School, is a single-gender education school in PIA Township, operated by Pakistan International Airlines. It was set up in 1980 to provide high quality education to the children of PIA employees at an affordable fee.

Accidents and incidents

The airline has lost more than 30 aircraft in crashes and other events, including 20 fatal crashes. There have also been at least eight hijacking incidents involving the airline's aircraft between 1971 and 2017.

  • In October 1952, an Orient Airways flight carrying cargo from Karachi to Dacca crashed. One of three was killed in this crash.
  • On Monday 3 August 1953, the Douglas DC-3 registered AP-AAD was operating on a hajj flight, carrying pilgrims from Karachi to Jeddah via Sharjah and Bahrain. The leg to Bahrain was to be flown by the first officer from the left-hand seat. Shortly after takeoff the aircraft entered a steep descending turn. The captain took over control but could not recover the aircraft. The Douglas DC-3 struck the ground. One of 25 was killed in this crash. "The accident resulted from the loss of control of the aircraft by the first officer shortly after taking off on a dark night when instrument flying was necessary. This loss of control was due to the inability of the first officer to fly on instruments. The responsibility for the accident is attributed to the captain for failing to supervise the piloting of the aircraft by the first officer."
  • Pakistan International Airlines experienced its first recorded hull loss in 1956: a Douglas DC-3 flew into a mountain on 25 February while on a cargo flight from Gilgit to Islamabad in poor weather, killing the three crew members on board.[146]
  • On 1 July 1957, a Douglas DC-3 registered AP-AJS, operating a domestic flight from Chittagong to Dhaka in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), crashed on a mudflat in the Bay of Bengal, killing all 20 passengers and four crew members on board.[147]
  • On 15 May 1958, a Convair CV-240 with the registration AP-AEH, operating as Flight 205 from Delhi to Karachi, crashed and caught fire moments after it took off from Delhi's Palam Airport on a moonless night in dusty conditions. The investigation attributed the crash to the captain experiencing a night somatogravic illusion, resulting in the aircraft descending shortly after it became airborne. Four of the six crew members and 21 of the 38 passengers on board were killed; two people on the ground were also killed.[148]
  • On 18 May 1959, a four-month-old Vickers Viscount with the registration AP-AJC was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Islamabad International Airport. The aircraft ran off the runway into a rainwater channel; there were no fatalities.[149]
  • Three months after the first Viscount crash, the airline lost another on 14 August 1959. The Viscount (registered AP-AJE) crashed at Karachi International Airport during a pilot training flight, while attempting an overshoot with two engines inoperative. Two of the three people on board were killed.[150]
  • On 26 March 1965 a Douglas DC-3 registered AP-AAH crashed in mountainous terrain near the Lowari Pass on a domestic flight from Peshawar to Chitral, killing the four crew members and 18 of the 22 passengers on board.[151]
 
The memorial tablet at the crash site in Cairo for those who died on PIA Flight 705 on 20 May 1965
  • Eight weeks later on 20 May 1965, a Boeing 720 operating as Flight 705 crashed while descending to land on Runway 34 at Cairo International Airport, resulting in 121 fatalities.
  • On 8 October 1965 a Fokker F27 Friendship, with less than 500 hours' flying time since it was delivered new to the airline earlier in the year, crashed while on a domestic cargo flight from Rawalpindi to Skardu. The aircraft (registered AP-ATT) hit a ridge near the village of Patian and slid down its side, the remains coming to rest more than 1,000 feet (300 m) below the impact point. The four crew members on board were killed.[152]
  • On 2 February 1966 Flight 17, operated by a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter, crashed on a scheduled domestic flight in East Pakistan after the main gearbox failed, killing 23 of the 24 passengers and crew on board.
  • On 6 August 1970, a Fokker F27 Friendship registered AP-ALM, operating a domestic flight from Rawalpindi to Lahore, crashed at high speed a few minutes after taking off from Rawalpindi in stormy weather. All 26 passengers and four crew members on board were killed.[153]
  • On 3 December 1971, a French national's attempt to hijack a PIA flight (Boeing 720B) from Paris to Karachi was thwarted by French security forces.[32]
  • On 8 December 1972, a Fokker F27 Friendship registered AP-AUS, operating a domestic flight between Gilgit and Rawalpindi in rainy weather as Flight 631, crashed in mountainous terrain. There were no survivors among the 22 passengers and four crew members on board.[154]
  • On 20 January 1978, a PIA Fokker F27 (registered AP-ALW) aircraft at Karachi with 22 passengers on board was hijacked by a gunman who asked to be flown to India. The then chairman of PIA, Air Marshal (Retd) Nur Khan boarded the aircraft to negotiate with the hijacker. He received a gunshot wound while trying to disarm the hijacker but still managed to overpower him.[155][156]
  • On 26 November 1979 Flight 740 was a Boeing 707-320C that crashed after takeoff from Jeddah International Airport for a flight to Karachi, resulting in 156 fatalities.
  • On 2 March 1981 Flight 326 was hijacked by three gunmen and flown to Kabul. For almost two weeks, more than 100 passengers were held captive on the Boeing 720 until Pakistan released 55 prisoners. One passenger, Pakistani diplomat Tariq Rahim, was murdered during the ordeal.[157][better source needed]
  • On 4 February 1986, a Boeing 747 registered as AP-AYW made a belly landing at Islamabad Airport around 9:00 am. The aircraft was operating Flight 300 from Karachi with 247 passengers and 17 crew members on board. Everyone survived this accident caused by pilot error.[158][better source needed]
  • On 23 October 1986, a Fokker F27 aircraft crashed during approach to Peshawar Airport. Of the 54 passengers and crew on board, 13 were killed in the accident.[159]
  • On 25 August 1989, a Fokker F27 operating as Flight 404 disappeared shortly after taking off from Gilgit Airport. All 54 passengers and crew on board were presumed killed.[160]
 
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 Crashsite in Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on 28 September 1992
  • On 28 September 1992 Flight 268, an Airbus A300 B4-200 registration AP-BCP, crashed on approach to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. All 167 on board were killed.
  • On December 27, 1997, a Pakistan Airlines Boeing 747 plane from Karachi to London, crashed when landing at Dubai international airport. It overshot the runway and went through the perimeter wall before coming to rest. No one was killed.[161]
  • On 25 May 1998 a Fokker F27 Friendship operating as Flight 544 was hijacked. All passengers and crew escaped unhurt.
  • On 1 March 2004, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 2002, Airbus A300B4-203 registration AP-BBA, burst two tires whilst taking off from King Abdulaziz International Airport. Fragments of the tire were ingested by the engines, which caused the engines to catch fire and an aborted takeoff was performed. Due to the fire, substantial damage to the engine and the left wing caused the aircraft to be written off. All 261 passengers and 12 crew survived.[162][163]
  • On 10 July 2006 Flight 688, a Fokker F27 operating from Multan to Lahore and then to Islamabad, crashed in a field[164] after bursting into flames a few minutes after takeoff[165] from Multan International Airport. All 41 passengers and four crew members on board were killed.
  • On September 25, 2010, a PIA Boeing 777-200LR registered AP-BGY, flying from Toronto to Karachi, made an emergency landing at Stockholm Arlanda Airport after a phone call was made claiming a passenger on board was armed with explosives. After the plane landed in Stockholm, it was parked at an emergency stand and the suspected passenger was removed from the plane by Swedish authorities. The rest of the passengers were also removed and the empty aircraft was searched. The plane and passengers were allowed to depart Sweden while the suspect was detained in the country for further investigation, but was later released after no evidence was found of the allegation made against him.[166][167][168]
  • On 31 August 2012, ATR 42–500 registration AP-BHJ, operating Flight 653 from Islamabad to Lahore, was landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport when it undershot the runway and came to rest on a grassy area on the right side of Runway 36R. There were no fatalities among the 42 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and withdrawn from service.[169]
  • On 11 February 2013, a Boeing 737 aircraft registered AP-BEH was operating Flight 259 from Islamabad to Muscat via Sialkot when its port side main landing gear collapsed during landing at Muscat International Airport. There were no fatalities among the 107 passengers and seven crew members on board. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and withdrawn from service
  • On 24 June 2014 Airbus A310-300 registration AP-BGN was operating Flight 756 from Riyadh to Peshawar with 178 passengers and 12 crew members on board when it was hit by gunfire during its landing approach at Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar. The aircraft landed safely, but one passenger was killed and two crew members were injured. The aircraft was damaged but it was later ferried to Karachi for repair.[170]
  • On 7 December 2016, Flight 661, operated by an ATR 42–500 aircraft registered AP-BHO, crashed in Havelian, Pakistan while en route from Chitral to Islamabad, killing all 47 on board.[171]
  • On 22 May 2020, Flight 8303, operated by an Airbus A320, AP-BLD crashed while on final approach to Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, arriving from Lahore. According to CAA sources, PIA Airbus A320 from Lahore was about to land in Karachi when it crashed at the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir. CAA sources said that its communication with the plane had been cut off one minute prior to the landing. 99 people were on board; two passengers survived while 97 on board, including eight crew members, were killed. Additional fatalities on the ground were unconfirmed. The Aviation Herald reported that the pilots had aborted the approach to Karachi due to landing gear issues and performed a go-around. Attempting to make a second approach, the crew requested to turn left moments before touchdown, immediately reporting they had lost both engines and declaring mayday. Soon after, the aircraft lost height and crashed into flames in the Model Colony residential area at about 14:40 local time. A ground observer reported that the aircraft suddenly became silent in its final seconds of flight.[172][173]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. ^ . Pakistan International Airlines. 3 April 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  3. ^ "PIA starts clearing VSS dues after months' delay". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  4. ^ . web.piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  5. ^ Administrator. "PIA history". travels-agencies.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. ^ a b "History". www.piac.com.pk. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b "gulf air | boeing | airbus | 1987 | 2153 | Flight Archive". www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  8. ^ "History of PIA – Pakistan International Airlines". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner Arrives at Paris Air Show – Jun 10, 2005". MediaRoom. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Plane lands after longest non-stop passenger flight". Daily Telegraph. 10 November 2005. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  11. ^ a b Platt, Craig (18 December 2019). "Qantas' final ultra-long haul test flight touches down after epic journey". Traveller. Retrieved 13 January 2020. Despite the long flight time, the last Project Sunrise test flight falls well short of the world record for the longest flight by a commercial airliner."

    "That title belongs to Pakistan International Airline, which flew a Boeing 777-200LR test flight from Hong Kong to London eastward, taking a whopping 22 hours, 22 minutes to complete the 21,600 kilometre journey.
  12. ^ "Overseas assets: Sale of PIA hotels likely to rake in $700 million – The Express Tribune". 30 April 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Pakistan International Airlines – PIA award plus". www.piac.com.pk. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  14. ^ Hardman, Jake (23 January 2022). "Pakistan International Airlines' Return To Europe Hits A Snag". Simple Flying. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  15. ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (30 June 2020). "PIA banned from European operations after mounting safety concerns". Flight Global. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  16. ^ "U.S. bans Pakistan International Airlines flights over pilot concerns". Reuters. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "RCD Collaboration in Air Transport". digitool.library.mcgill.ca. July 1972. pp. 66–100. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  18. ^ . Archived from the original on 7 February 2009.
  19. ^ . Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  20. ^ "History". www.piac.com.pk. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  21. ^ About PIA – History 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine PIA official website. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  22. ^ Newspaper, the (28 December 2011). "Nur Khan: a man of integrity". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Aviation Photo #2342874: Boeing 720-040B – Pakistan International Airlines – PIA". Airliners.net.
  24. ^ a b "RCD Collaboration in Air Transport". digitool.library.mcgill.ca. July 1972. p. 75. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  25. ^ Crilly, Rob (31 May 2014). "PIA's flightpath out of turbulent times". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2019. It was the first Asian airline to operate jetliners (Boeing 707s),
  26. ^ . Airways Magazine. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  27. ^ a b c Commerce, United States Congress House Committee on Interstate and Foreign (1974). International Air Transportation Competition: Hearings Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Aeronautics, Ninety-third Congress, Second Session ... U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 65–67.
  28. ^ . Archived from the original on 22 September 2017.
  29. ^ a b Fricker, John (29 May 1969). "PIA Looks Ahead". Flight International. p. 867. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  30. ^ . PIA. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  31. ^ "Aviation Photo #0058284: Fokker F-27-200 Friendship – Pakistan International Airlines – PIA". Airliners.net.
  32. ^ a b Times, Henry Kamm;Special to The New York (4 December 1971). "Paris Police Thwart Airliner Hijacking". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  33. ^ Air Pictorial. Air League of the British Empire. 1974.
  34. ^ Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1976.
  35. ^ Pakistan Year Book. East & West Publishing Company. 1978.
  36. ^ "PIA 1972 pakistan – Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  37. ^ Thomas, Andrew R. (30 October 2008). Aviation Security Management [3 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313346538.
  38. ^ a b Grant, Tina (2002). International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. ISBN 9781558624641.
  39. ^ Data Asia. Press Foundation of Asia. 1978.
  40. ^ Pakistan Economist. S. Akhtar Ali. July 1981.
  41. ^ a b Wragg, David (2007). The World's Major Airlines. Sutton. ISBN 9780750944816.
  42. ^ a b c Lynch, James J. (11 November 1984). Airline Organization in the 1980s: An Industry Report on Strategies and Structures for Coping withChange. Springer. ISBN 9781349076307.
  43. ^ Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1982.
  44. ^ Pakistan Affairs. The Embassy. 1984.
  45. ^ Technology Policies and Planning—Pakistan. Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology. 1986.
  46. ^ Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1985.
  47. ^ Pakistan Year Book. East & West Publishing Company. 1989.
  48. ^ a b c d Fund, International Monetary (2005). Pakistan: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix. International Monetary Fund.
  49. ^ "Breaking new ground at 30,000 feet". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  50. ^ a b "Shukriya Khanum: Pakistan's first female commercial pilot dies". BBC News. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  51. ^ Hasan, Syed Shoaib (28 July 2010). "Pakistan crash raises questions about air safety". Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  52. ^ "EC inspects CAA operation". Dawn. Pakistan. 22 February 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  53. ^ "Restrictions force PIA to suspend Frankfurt flight". Dawn. Pakistan. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  54. ^ EU bans Pakistan airline flights – BBC News – Obtained 5 March 2007. 26 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  55. ^ Stiles, Kendall (19 September 2014). State Responses to International Law. Routledge. ISBN 9781317652953.
  56. ^ EU Lifts ban on PIA 27 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine Brecorder Newspapers. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  57. ^ a b STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN. "ANNUAL REPORT 2011 – 2012: THE STATE OF PAKISTAN'S ECONOMY" (PDF). p. 21.
  58. ^ a b c "Once Pakistan's Pride, Its Embattled National Airline Fights To Survive". NPR.org. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  59. ^ a b c Chaudhry, Javed (9 August 2016). "PIA acquires three aircraft from SriLankan Airlines for 'Premier Service'". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  60. ^ "SriLankan CEO says wet lease with PIA 'most profitable' deal in recent past". DailyMirror. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  61. ^ a b c d e f Shaw-Smith, Peter. "Pakistan Airlines Struggles To Overcome Structural Obstacles". Aviation International News. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  62. ^ "PIA Finally Switches to a New Airline & Passenger Management System". propakistani.pk. 12 September 2018.
  63. ^ T2RL. "T2RL – Pakistan International Airlines chooses Hitit for PSS". t2rl.net.
  64. ^ a b "Pakistan injects Rs. 17bn to keep crashing airlines afloat". Arab News. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  65. ^ . www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  66. ^ "Gender pay gap at LloydsPharmacy sees year-on-year increase". The Pharmaceutical Journal. 2019. doi:10.1211/pj.2019.20206407. ISSN 2053-6186. S2CID 239397136.
  67. ^ "PIA expects Rs 5 bn additional revenue". Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  68. ^ a b Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (25 September 2019). "PIA CEO touts revenues, but without any financial statements". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  69. ^ "Pakistan Wants to Resume Flights to the US". TravelPulse. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  70. ^ a b "Pak flag carrier PIA lays off nearly 1,000 surplus employees". The Economic Times. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  71. ^ "PIA to induct seven new planes to its fleet under new business plan". ARY NEWS. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  72. ^ Iqbal, Amjad (17 September 2019). "14 more aircraft being added to PIA fleet: minister". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  73. ^ a b c "PIA finally showing signs of improvement". Daily Times. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  74. ^ "PIA relief flight for Melbourne, Australia". The News International. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  75. ^ John, Tara; Rahim, Zamira (22 May 2020). "Karachi crash: Pakistani airliner crashes with over 100 on board". CNN.
  76. ^ "'Dubious pilot licences' do not pertain to PIA alone, says national carrier". Dawn. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  77. ^ a b Asghar, Mohammad (17 December 2020). "Goal set to axe majority of PIA workers". DAWN.COM.
  78. ^ "Pakistan airline suspends 150 pilots over alleged licence fraud". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  79. ^ "Almost 1 in 3 pilots in Pakistan have fake licenses, aviation minister says". CNN. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  80. ^ "Pakistani pilots grounded over 'fake licences'". BBC News. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  81. ^ "PIA sacks seven pilots over licensing issue". www.geo.tv.
  82. ^ "E.U. Bans PIA From Airspace for Six Months". Newsweek Pakistan. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  83. ^ "U.S. Bans Pakistan International Airlines Flights Over Pilot Concerns". US News via Reuters. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  84. ^ "US bans Pakistan's PIA flights over pilots' fake license". La Prensa Times. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  85. ^ "FAA Downgrades Pakistan's Safety Rating To Category 2". Simple Flying. 16 July 2020.
  86. ^ "PIA sacks seven pilots, an air hostess". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  87. ^ Finlay, Mark (28 December 2020). "EU Extends Pakistan International Airlines Flight Ban By 3 Months". Simple Flying. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  88. ^ Asghar, Mohammad; Nazar, Nuzhat (16 March 2021). "EU, US and UK operations: PIA has to wait until July". Business Recorder. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  89. ^ Asghar, Azfar (8 April 2021). "European Union Aviation Safety Agency extends travel restrictions on PIA". Dawn. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  90. ^ ul-Ashfaque, Azfar (24 July 2021). "SITUATIONER: One year on, hopes for lifting of EU curbs on PIA flights fade". Dawn. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  91. ^ "PIA gets SAFA's safety ratings". www.thenews.com.pk. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  92. ^ "PCAA oversight brings positive results for PIA". www.thenews.com.pk. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  93. ^ . www.piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  94. ^ a b "PIA Head Office being shifted to Islamabad". The Express Tribune. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  95. ^ PIA privatization Flight International Magazine, printed 1 January 1997, assessed 9 March 2009
  96. ^ Pak Steel, PIA dropped from privatization list[permanent dead link] The News, Jang Newspapers Published 18 February 2009, assessed 9 March 2009
  97. ^ "PTI's promises include turning around PIA, PSM – The Express Tribune". 27 July 2018.
  98. ^ "PIA operates 46 flights without passengers: Audit report". The Economic Times. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  99. ^ "5 Cheapest Airlines in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)". Gulf Guide. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  100. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  101. ^ a b (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  102. ^ (PDF). 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  103. ^ (PDF). 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  104. ^ "PIA ANNUAL REPORT 2019". 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.[permanent dead link]
  105. ^ (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  106. ^ (PDF). piac.com.pk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  107. ^ a b . Pakistan International Airlines. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  108. ^ "Etihad Airways and PIA relaunch codeshare partnership". Etihad Airways.
  109. ^ "PIA Cargo SPA Arrangements". Pakistan International Airlines.
  110. ^ "PIA Pakistan International Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  111. ^ . piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  112. ^ "Boeing: Orders and Deliveries". boeing.com. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  113. ^ "PIA Invites Bids for All Economy Conversion of Five Boeing 777 Aircraft - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  114. ^ a b c Flying on PIA and Visit Pakistan 2021 - Latest Update on PIA, retrieved 8 March 2022
  115. ^ a b c Chui, Sam (30 December 2021). "Interview with PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik". SamChui.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  116. ^ "PIA to Restore IFE & Refurbish Passenger Cabin of Two Boeing 777-200LR Aircraft With New Seats - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  117. ^ "PIA Invites Bids for All Economy Conversion of Five Boeing 777 Aircraft - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  118. ^ "History of PIA - Pakistan International Airlines". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  119. ^ INP (12 December 2020). "PIA excludes ATR-72 airplanes from its fleet". Profit by Pakistan Today. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  120. ^ "PIA operational fleet status - Page 14 - History of PIA - Forum". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  121. ^ Asghar, Mohammad (6 April 2018). "First plane to land at new Islamabad airport tomorrow". Dawn.
  122. ^ Asghar, Mohammad (7 April 2018). "PIA planes get a facelift". Dawn.
  123. ^ "PIA secures limited gov't funding but barred from rebranding". ch-aviation.
  124. ^ "PIA rebranding aims to rectify errors, build global image – Daily Times". 27 June 2018.
  125. ^ "Major Airlines that Don't Serve Alcohol". ShawnVoyage. 7 April 2014.
  126. ^ APP (14 August 2016). "PM Nawaz inaugurates PIA Premier on Pakistan's 70th Independence Day". Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  127. ^ Garros, Roland (2012) [John Norman White (1994)]. A History of INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT (Report).
  128. ^ "In-Flight Entertainment System History: Are You Not Entertained?". Tedium: The Dull Side of the Internet. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  129. ^ "PIA launches new inflight system". Daily Times. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  130. ^ "PIA Precision Engineering Complex Services". Pakistan International Airlines.
  131. ^ "PIA Ground Handling Services". Pakistan International Airlines.
  132. ^ "PIA International Stations for Cargo". Pakistan International Airlines.
  133. ^ . Piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  134. ^ . Piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  135. ^ Standard Charted – PIA Credit Card on YouTube. Retrieved 7 January 2007.
  136. ^ PRI-PIA alliance to help boost remittance inflows through banking channels: Shaukat Tarin 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine – Accessed 29 December 2009. Associated Press of Pakistan.
  137. ^ . Piac.com.pk. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  138. ^ "PIA & McDonalds Alliance Deal for Ramadan". photobucket.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  139. ^ PIA Annual Report 2008–2009 12 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine PIA Press Releases. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  140. ^ PIA signs agreement with PC Dubai[permanent dead link] Daily Times. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  141. ^ "Photos: Boeing 737-33A Aircraft Pictures - Airliners.net". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  142. ^ "Photos: Airbus A310-304 Aircraft Pictures - Airliners.net". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  143. ^ . Pakistan News. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  144. ^ Dawn News: August 31, 2021
  145. ^ "Corporate Social Responsibility". www.piac.com.pk. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  146. ^ "Accident description, Douglas C-47B-40-DK (DC-3) AP-ACZ". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  147. ^ "Accident description, Douglas C-47A-10-DK (DC-3) AP-AJS". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  148. ^ "Accident description, Convair CV-240-7 AP-AEH". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  149. ^ "Accident description, Vickers 815 Viscount AP-AJC". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  150. ^ "Accident description, Vickers 815 Viscount AP-AJE". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  151. ^ "Accident description, Douglas C-47A-1-DK (DC-3) AP-AAH". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  152. ^ "Accident description, Fokker F-27 [sic] Friendship 200 AP-ATT". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  153. ^ "Accident description, Fokker F-27 [sic] Friendship 200 AP-ALM". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  154. ^ "Accident description, Fokker F-27 [sic] Friendship 600 AP-AUS". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  155. ^ "Hijacking in Karachi; Hijacking wasn't first try". The New York Times. 7 September 1986. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  156. ^ Mishra, Sidharth (1997). Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College. Allied Publishers. p. 153. ISBN 978-81-7023-649-8.
  157. ^ "History of PIA – Pakistan International Airlines". Retrieved 24 April 2015.[self-published source]
  158. ^ "History of PIA – Pakistan International Airlines". historyofpia.com. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  159. ^ "Accident description, Fokker F-27 [sic] Friendship 600 AP-AUX". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  160. ^ "Accident description, Fokker F-27 [sic] Friendship 200 AP-BBF". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  161. ^ "December 28, 1997: PIA flight careens off runway in Dubai".
  162. ^ "PIA Flight 2002 accident". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  163. ^ "History of PIA – Pakistan International Airlines". historyofpia.com.
  164. ^ . yahoo. 10 July 2006. Archived from the original on 12 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  165. ^ . CNN. 10 July 2006. Archived from the original on 21 July 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2006.
  166. ^ "Plane makes emergency landing in Sweden after bomb threat". 25 September 2010.
  167. ^ "RCMP: Anonymous caller said man had explosives on plane". The Toronto Star. 25 September 2010.
  168. ^ "Plane makes emergency landing in Sweden after bomb threat".
  169. ^ "SN Aircraft accident ATR 42–500 AP-BHJ Lahore Airport (LHE)". Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  170. ^ "Accident: PIA A313 at Peshawar on Jun 24th 2014, aircraft under gun fire on final approach". The Aviation Herald. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  171. ^ "Crash: PIA AT42 near Havelian on Dec 7th 2016, engine failure". The Aviation Herald. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  172. ^ "PIA plane crashes near Karachi airport". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  173. ^ Hawker, Luke (22 May 2020). "Pakistan International Airlines plane crash – horrible scenes as Airbus 320 'hits houses'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2020.

Bibliography

  • Laurence Urdang; Ceila Dame Robbins (1984), Slogans, Gale Research Company, p. 36, ISBN 978-0-81-031549-5

External links

  Media related to Pakistan International Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official website

pakistan, international, airlines, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pakistan International Airlines news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pakistan International Airlines Urdu پاکستان انٹرنیشنل ایئر لائنز abbreviated PIA Urdu پی آئی اے is an international airline that serves as the national flag carrier of Pakistan under the administrative control of the Secretary to the Government of Pakistan for Aviation Its central hub is Karachi s Jinnah International Airport while Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Islamabad International Airport serve as secondary hubs Pakistan International AirlinesIATA ICAO CallsignPK PIA PAKISTANFounded29 October 1946 76 years ago 1946 10 29 as Orient Airways HubsKarachi Islamabad LahoreFocus citiesPeshawar Multan Sialkot QuettaFrequent flyer programPIA Awards PlusSubsidiariesRoosevelt Hotel Hotel The Scribe Paris Skyrooms Pvt Limited PIA Investments LimitedFleet size40Destinations60 1 Parent companyAviation Division GoP 2 Traded asPSX PIAAHeadquartersJinnah International AirportKarachi PakistanKey peopleMuhammad Amir Hayat CEO RevenueRs 94 989 billion US 420 million FY 2019 20 Operating incomeRs 680 million US 3 0 million FY 2019 20 Net incomeRs 34 643 billion US 150 million FY 2019 20 Employees7 500 3 2022 Websitepiac com pkPIA was founded on 29 October 1946 as Orient Airways and was initially based in Calcutta British India before shifting operations to the newly independent state of Pakistan in 1947 Orient Airways was nationalised to form the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation PIAC 4 The new airline commenced international services in 1955 to London via Cairo and Rome 5 PIA in 1964 became the first non Communist airline to fly to China 6 The airline played a vital role in the establishment of Emirates Airline in 1985 7 In 2004 PIA became the launch customer of the Boeing 777 200LR 8 9 On 10 November 2005 PIA used the Boeing 777 200LR to complete the world s longest nonstop flight by a commercial airliner This flight lasted 22 hours and 22 minutes on the eastbound route between Hong Kong and London 10 11 PIA is Pakistan s largest airline and operates a fleet of 30 aircraft The airline operates nearly 100 flights daily servicing 18 domestic destinations and 25 international destinations across Asia Europe the Middle East and North America 1 In addition to commercial flight operations PIA also owns the Sofitel Paris Scribe Hotel in Paris 12 and The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City The airline operates a frequent flier programme PIA Awards and has several codeshare and interline agreements However it is not part of any airline alliance 13 On 30 June 2020 PIA was banned from flying in European airspace initially for six months starting on 1 July 2020 and then indefinitely after EASA determined that the airline was not capable of certifying and overseeing its operators and aircraft in accordance with applicable international standards 14 This decision was made soon after it was revealed that at least a third of all pilot s licenses issued in Pakistan were not genuine 15 By 9 July 2020 the airline was also banned by the United Kingdom and the United States 16 Contents 1 Early years 2 Post independence 2 1 1950s 2 2 1960s 2 3 1970s 2 4 1980s 2 5 1990s 2 6 2000s 2 7 2010s 2 8 2020s 2 8 1 Pilot licensing scandal 3 Corporate management 3 1 Structure 3 2 Privatization 3 3 Financial performance 4 Destinations 4 1 Codeshare agreements 4 2 Interline agreements 4 3 Cargo SPA agreements 5 Fleet 5 1 Current fleet 5 2 Former fleet 6 Livery 7 Services 7 1 Cabin 7 2 Catering 7 3 PIA Premier service 7 4 In flight magazine 7 5 In flight entertainment 7 6 In flight Internet 7 7 Frequent flyer program 7 8 Precision Engineering Complex 7 9 Ground handling 8 Cargo operations 9 Corporate sponsorship 10 Charter and special services 10 1 State officials transportation 10 2 Charter services 10 3 Hajj and Umrah operations 11 PIA Township 11 1 PIA Model Secondary School 12 Accidents and incidents 13 See also 14 References 15 Bibliography 16 External linksEarly years Edit Passengers and bystanders with an Orient Airways Douglas DC 3 on the occasion of the arrival of the Burmese High Commissioner to India at Calcutta circa 1947 Pak International Airlines can trace its origins to the days when Pakistan had not yet come into existence following the end of the British Raj and the Partition of British India In the early 1930s Imperial Airways operated its long haul routes by creating a lot of small airports across Africa and Asia The Handley Page H P 42 aircraft was Imperial Airways first major success as it was specially designed to handle operations from unprepared ground In 1945 the country s founder Muhammed Ali Jinnah realized the need for a flag carrier for the prospective country and requested financial help from wealthy businessmen Mirza Ahmad Ispahani and Adamjee Haji Dawood for this purpose 17 As a result the new airline Orient Airways was registered in Kolkata then known as Calcutta on 23 October 1946 17 Orient became the first and only Muslim owned airline in the British Raj 18 19 In February 1947 the airline bought three Douglas DC 3 aircraft and obtained a licence to fly in May of the same year 17 The airline started its operations on 30 June 1947 offering services in British India from Calcutta to Sittwe and Rangoon present day Yangon 20 Post independence EditOn 14 August 1947 Pakistan gained independence and Orient Airways started relief operations for the new country The airline was entrusted with the task of servicing air routes between East and West Pakistan 17 By 1949 Orient acquired three Convair CV 240s to service the Karachi Delhi Calcutta Dhaka route and became the first Asian airline to operate Convair aircraft 17 1950s Edit A Convair CV 240 at Jinnah International Airport Karachi circa 1950 A Lockheed 1049C Super Constellation at London Heathrow International Airport London 8 April 1955 Orient s traffic continuously declined until 1953 as Britain s BOAC had been granted rights to carry passengers between the two wings of Pakistan while two other local competitors also began serving Orient routes 17 As a result of losses the Pakistani government began subsidizing Orient s operations through a 1952 contract for the purchase of three Lockheed L 1049 Super Constellations registered to the government s newly established subsidiary Pakistan International Airlines PIA at the cost of 25 million rupees 17 PIA had been established as a department of Pakistan s Civil Aviation Authority and was tasked with operation and maintenance of the new Lockheed aircraft 17 Pakistan s government established the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation through the merger Orient Airways with Pakistan International Airlines on 1 October 1953 by an interim joint operating agreement in which the government assumed financial control of the airline while Orient s operations and ground assets could be complemented by the aircraft of Pakistan International Airlines although Orient Airways continued to operate under its name for a few more years 17 Pakistan s Ministry of Defence took over operations from the Civil Aviation Authority in early 1954 while the chairman of Orient Airways became the CEO of PIA and foreign staff brought in to help relaunch the airline 17 On 7 June 1954 Orient Airways began nonstop flight services between East and West Pakistan with service from Karachi to Dhaka using Pakistan International Airlines Lockheed aircraft that had been ordered in 1952 and delivered in early 1954 The route was subsidized by the government so that middle class Pakistanis could afford to fly the route with rates that may have been the lowest in the world at the time 17 The airline also introduced two new domestic routes Karachi Lahore Peshawar and Karachi Quetta Lahore On 11 March 1955 Orient Airways and Pakistan International Airlines were formally merged as part of the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Ordinance 1955 Orient Airways ceased operations while the government of Pakistan took a majority holding in the airline 17 The new PIA had a fleet of three L I049C Super Constellations two Convair CV 240s and eleven DC 3s 17 The newly relaunched airline also inaugurated its first international route Karachi London Heathrow Airport 21 via Cairo and Rome using the newly acquired Lockheed L 1049C Super Constellations The airline continued using DC 3s on domestic routes in Pakistan PIA carried 113 165 passengers in 1955 50 higher than in 1954 17 In May 1956 PIA ordered five Vickers Viscount 815s The airline also entered into a partnership with PanAm to train PIA s personnel in 1956 17 In 1957 1958 passenger numbers rose to 208 000 necessitating the purchase of 2 additional Lockheed Super Constellations 17 The appointment of Air Marshal Nur Khan as the managing director of PIA in 1959 heralded an era of success for PIA 22 1960s Edit A Boeing 720 at Heathrow Airport on 24 June 1962 23 In February 1960 PIA wet leased a Boeing 707 from Pan American airlines and introduced it onto the Karachi London route on 7 March 1960 initially using PanAm pilots 24 thereby becoming the first Asian airline to induct and commercially operate a jet aircraft in its fleet 24 25 6 Air India took delivery of a 707 earlier on 21 February 1960 but did not induct the aircraft into commercial service until 19 April 1960 26 An all Pakistani crew began operation of the 707 from 20 June 1960 onwards 17 By the end of 1960 PIA for the first time entered financial profitability 17 With the newly acquired aircraft the airline introduced its first trans Atlantic route Karachi New York via London on 5 May 1961 17 which was suspended in February 1963 27 In 1961 it expanded its fleet by placing orders for 3 Boeing 720s which were delivered in 1962 17 On 2 January 1962 a PIA Boeing 720B flown by Captain Abdullah Baig from London to Karachi established a world record for speed over a commercial airline route of 938 78 km h 582 98 mph a record which still holds to this day 28 Fokker F27 Friendships and Sikorsky helicopters were also ordered and delivered in 1963 with the helicopters used to provide air service to 20 towns in East Pakistan until 1966 17 29 The helicopters were retired in 1966 and a reduced network of eight cities was served by Fokker F27 aircraft 29 Upon the establishment of ties between Pakistan and the People s Republic of China PIA started flying the Dhaka Canton Shanghai route on 29 April 1964 becoming the first airline of a non communist country flying to the People s Republic of China 30 17 On 10 May 1964 PIA became the first non Soviet airline offering flights to Europe via Moscow 17 At the outbreak of the Indo Pakistani War of 1965 the Pakistani Armed Forces used PIA s services for logistics and transport purposes The Viscounts were phased out in 1966 and were replaced by four Hawker Siddeley Tridents PIA s route grew rapidly in the mid to late 1960s Dhahran was added in 1965 while Cairo services resumed In 1966 Paris Istanbul Baghdad Kuwait Jeddah and Nairobi were added to PIA s routes Bangkok was added in 1967 while Manila Tokyo and Damascus were added in 1969 17 1970s Edit PIA Fokker F27 Friendship at Chitral Airport arriving from Peshawar on 1 August 1972 31 A PIA McDonnell Douglas DC 10 30 taking off from Frankfurt Airport West Germany circa 1977 On 3 December 1971 a French national s attempt to hijack a PIA flight from Paris to Karachi was thwarted by French security forces 32 Transatlantic flights to New York City were resumed in May 1972 with a stopover in Europe 27 With the establishment of cordial ties between the Libyan and Pakistani governments in the early 1970s PIA added Tripoli to its network in 1972 PIA also signed an agreement with Yugoslav airline JAT in 1972 to lease two PIA Boeing 707s to JAT 33 PIA acquired McDonnell Douglas DC 10s in 1973 to replace its remaining Boeing 707 300s Nur Khan was appointed as PIA executive for the second term in 1974 27 In 1974 PIA launched Pakistan International Cargo offering air freight and cargo services The latter half of the decade witnessed a further expansion of PIA s fleet with the introduction of Boeing 747s with its first two aircraft leased from TAP Air Portugal in 1976 34 By 1976 7 PIA carried 2 2 million passengers compared to 698 000 in 1972 3 35 Revenues in 1976 rose sharply compared to 1975 with the airline revenues of 134 million in the July December period of 1976 36 On 20 January 1978 a PIA Fokker 27 was hijacked en route to Karachi from Sukkur 37 For the first time since its inauguration PIA started providing technical and administrative assistance or leased aircraft to foreign airlines including Air China 38 Air Malta 38 Choson Minhang 39 Philippine Airlines 40 Somali Airlines 41 and Yemenia 41 A subsidiary of PIA also started providing hotel management services in the United Arab Emirates towards the end of the decade Political upheaval in Pakistan in the late 1970s began to impact PIA s operations negatively 42 1980s Edit The 1980s saw a continuation of PIA growth The decade began with the opening of a cargo handling centre at Karachi airport duty free shops the first C and D safety checks on its entire fleet as well as the introduction of the airline s first Airbus A300B4 200 aircraft In 1981 PIA had an employee workforce of almost 24 000 which despite being reduced to 20 000 by 1983 still resulted in PIA having the world s highest ratio of employees to aircraft 42 PIA s operations became increasingly de centralized during the early 1980s with responsibilities being split between new departments 42 Despite de centralization PIA reported its highest ever profits in 1981 2 43 followed by record profits again in 1983 4 44 In 1984 the airline introduced the Night Coach service as a low cost alternative to day time domestic flights In the following years PIA Planetarium was inaugurated in Karachi which was followed by planetariums in Lahore and Peshawar These planetariums featured retired PIA aircraft on display for educational or observational purposes Two more retired Boeing 720B aircraft were donated to the planetariums in Karachi and Lahore later on PIA profits again rose in 1984 5 45 In June 1985 PIA became the first Asian airline to operate the Boeing 737 300 aircraft after six of the aircraft were delivered 46 Pakistan International Airlines also played a significant role in establishing UAE s Emirates airline in 1985 by providing technical and administrative assistance to the new carrier as well as leasing a new Boeing 737 300 and an Airbus A300B4 200 7 In late 1987 and early 1988 services to Male Manchester and Toronto were introduced 47 1990s Edit A PIA Airbus A300 at Fiumicino Airport Italy circa 1991 PIA Boeing 747 Combi taxiing at London s London Heathrow International Airport in June 1992 PIA began to sustain operating losses and liquidity problems throughout the 1990s due to frequent pilot strikes issues with various vendors over staffing and political interference in airline management 48 In 1990 First Officer Maliha Sami became the first female pilot of PIA when she took off on the Karachi Panjgur Turbat Gwadar route 49 In June 1991 PIA took delivery of its first of six Airbus A310 300s With the new aircraft the airline introduced flights to Tashkent in 1992 and to Zurich in 1993 In March 1993 AVM Farooq Umar became managing director of the airline An Open Skies agreement between Karachi to Dubai was agreed upon in 1993 and 12 private airlines were allowed to operate domestically in Pakistan Both steps came simultaneously and put enormous pressure on PIA s financial performance though PIA launched six new routes to the Persian Gulf and CIS countries along with a tourist Air Safari scenic flight over the Karakoram Mountains in 1994 Non stop flights from Lahore and Islamabad to JFK and Canada were launched while PIA added Jakarta Fujairah Baku and Al Ain to its network in 1994 In addition PIA became a client of three flight reservation systems namely Sabre Galileo and Amadeus A Tupolev Tu 154 aircraft was also leased briefly in 1996 to cope with a surge in passenger traffic during summer 1996 Flights to Beirut were resumed the same year as well before being discontinued a few years later In 1999 PIA leased five Boeing 747 300 aircraft from Cathay Pacific to replace its Boeing 747 200M fleet The aircraft were painted with a new livery a handwork Pashmina tail on white body and large Pakistan titles on the front fuselage The livery was adopted in the early 90s but due to some copyright issues it was dropped The Boeing 747 300s continued to bear the new livery but with a plain green tail with PIA titles The other aircraft in the fleet were repainted in early 1990s livery 2000s Edit PIA Boeing 747 300 on short final to London Heathrow International Airport circa 2003 PIA Boeing 777 200ER taking off from Manchester Airport circa 2006 The War in Afghanistan following the attacks on 11 September 2001 negatively impacted PIA s operations as Afghan airspace was closed 48 However following the restructuring of the airline under new management in April 2001 the airline again became profitable 48 Cost per employee dropped 24 between 2000 and 2003 and lower engineering and maintenance costs led to enhanced airline revenue 48 In July 2002 PIA purchased six Boeing 747 300 aircraft from Cathay Pacific five of which were already on lease The sixth one arrived shortly afterwards and was used mainly on its North American and European routes In October 2002 after ten years without any new orders the airline placed an order for eight Boeing 777 aircraft The order included all three variants of 777 i e three 777 200ER Extended Range two 777 200LR Longer Range and three 777 300ER versions PIA was the launch customer that revived the Boeing 777 200LR project that until then only had three orders Boeing delivered the first of three 777 200ER aircraft to PIA in January 2004 and PIA introduced a new livery for the 777 200ERs that was applied to most of its fleet PIA also leased six more Airbus A310 300 aircraft directly from Airbus On 3 November 2005 PIA placed an order to purchase seven ATR 42 500 aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of Fokker F27 Friendships On 10 November 2005 PIA used the 777 200LR to fly the world s longest flight by a commercial airliner flying over 21 000 kilometres on an eastbound flight from Hong Kong to London for 22 hours and 22 minutes 10 a record which still stands as of late 2019 11 On 6 December 2005 PIA acquired another new Boeing 777 200ER on a ten year lease The same year Ayesha Rabia Naveed became the first woman to captain a scheduled commercial flight 50 The following year she captained a flight with the first all woman crew 50 On 23 December 2006 PIA took delivery of its first Boeing 777 300ER The remaining aircraft were delivered in January 2007 On 25 February 2006 Boeing delivered its first 777 200LR to PIA ATR delivered two of the seven ordered ATR 42s to PIA in May and December 2006 respectively following which the airline ceased using military Lockheed C 130 Hercules for passenger services in northern areas of Pakistan The military aircraft were being used after the PIA Flight 688 accident With the induction of long range 777 aircraft in its fleet PIA started offering non stop flights from Toronto to Karachi Islamabad and Lahore from 3 March 2006 PIA had also planned non stop flights to New York City Chicago Washington and Houston but was not permitted by US authorities unless the airline implemented a European stopover on the flight to American cities due to security concerns after 9 11 A PIA flight from Multan crashed in July 2006 killing 45 A government inquiry afterward blamed aging aircraft for the crash 51 Houston services also ended in 2006 Following the crash on 5 March 2007 the European Commission banned all but 9 of PIA s 42 strong fleet from flying to Europe citing safety concerns over its ageing aircraft 52 53 The fleet of Boeing 777s was exempted from the ban 54 but 15 aircraft were over 20 years old by this point 55 PIA claimed that the ban was discriminatory and unjustifiable The ban on some of the aircraft was lifted after four months on 5 July 2007 following an inspection by the European Union Air Safety Administration Of the eleven aircraft allowed to resume operations to the EU five were Boeing 747 300s and the remaining six were Airbus A310 300s On 29 November 2007 the EU completely removed the ban and PIA s entire fleet was permitted to fly to Europe 56 2010s Edit PIA ATR 42 500 in a Balochistan province tail livery on 14 November 2011 In 2010 PIA altered its livery The tail design was replaced with a much larger version of the Pakistan national flag and added the text Pakistan International in gold writing underneath the large billboard style PIA on the fuselage The green stripe was modified to include gold and was extended to the rear of the fuselage By 2011 PIA began to be unprofitable again requiring government subsidies 57 In 2014 PIA leased four Boeing 737 800s PIA also issued a request for tender for four Boeing 777 300ERs however the bids for the 777s were not accepted The airline did lease Airbus A320 aircraft and inducted two A320 214s in its fleet in 2014 Another wet leased A320 211s joined PIA on 11 August 2014 In October 2014 the airline again wet leased three Boeing 737 800s and it also accepted bids to dry lease five ATR 72 500s for eight years In 2015 after serving PIA for 16 years the last of PIA s Boeing 747 300s were phased out In early 2016 PIA was fundamentally grounded for an entire week as employees walked out en masse following the deaths of two employees in a demonstration against the airline s privatization 58 In August 2016 PIA launched a new Premier Service for flights to London using an Airbus A330 300 wet leased from SriLankan Airlines 59 The wet lease period ended after six months and as a result the A330 300 was returned to SriLankan Airlines 60 and the Premier Service discontinued By the end of 2016 the airline was saddled with 3 billion in debt 58 In January 2017 PIA retired all of the Airbus A310 300s from its fleet For replacement PIA leased four Boeing 737 800s from Pegasus Airlines which were returned later on completion of the lease period After over 50 years of service PIA service to New York ended in October 2017 as a result of TSA regulation preventing nonstop flights from Pakistan and the US 61 leaving Toronto as PIA s only destination in North America which continues to be served by nonstop flights from Karachi Lahore and Islamabad In 2017 PIA decided to replace its reservation and ticketing system Sabre with a Turkish origin system called Hitit Both PIA amp Hitit signed an agreement and in September 2018 the airline successfully switched to the new system 62 63 At the end of 2018 the airline was burdened with 3 3 billion in debt up from 2 97 the year before and thus requiring government bailouts for continued operation 64 With the demise of Shaheen Air PIA launched routes that had previously been served only by Shaheen 61 New profitable routes were launched in 2019 65 while profitable routes such as Karachi Toronto saw increased frequencies 66 six unprofitable routes were discontinued in 2019 67 In April 2019 PIA claimed that its revenues almost matched operating costs 68 Later that year following a visit of TSA officials to the Islamabad International Airport in July 2019 PIA expressed hope that non stop flights to the US would be permitted 69 In August 2019 PIA laid off 1 000 redundant employees 70 In September PIA announced that it would lease additional aircraft to increase the airline s fleet to 37 by 2020 71 and 45 by 2023 72 By the end of 2019 PIA reported a 41 increase in year on year revenue due to discontinuation of unprofitable routes reintroduction of grounded aircraft and a sharp increase in cargo space utilization 73 2020s Edit See also Pakistan International Airlines Flight 8303 For the first time in its history PIA operated a relief flight from Lahore to Melbourne Australia during the COVID 19 pandemic 74 On 22 May 2020 a PIA Airbus A320 214 AP BLD crashed near Karachi airport with 99 people on board The flight was en route to Karachi from Lahore Flight PK8303 carrying 91 passengers and eight crew members on board crashed while on the descent towards the runway of Jinnah International Airport killing 97 while two passengers survived The cause of the crash is unknown pending an inquiry 75 The International Air Transport Association IATA communicated concerns over the serious lapse in licensing and safety oversight by the aviation regulator 76 In November 2020 PIA shut down its courier arm SpeedEx whose infrastructure was scattered over 74 domestic destinations and laid off its 320 employees 77 In December 2020 PIA announced a plan to lay off half of its employees and transferred its engineering arm Precision Engineering Complex PEC to the Pakistan Air Force 77 Pilot licensing scandal Edit On 24 June Pakistani aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan told Parliament that 262 of Pakistan s 860 active licensed pilots had been found to have suspicious or fake licences They were suspected of having paid someone else to take their certification examination on their behalf PIA subsequently grounded 150 of its 434 pilots on suspicion of having a bogus license 78 79 80 Later the employment of seven pilots was terminated 81 On 30 June the European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA revoked PIA s third part authorisation subsequently banning PIA from flying in European airspace for six months from the following day 82 following multiple safety failings On 9 July 2020 the United States banned the airline because of concerns about its certification of pilots 83 By that date PIA was also banned from flights in the United Kingdom and Pakistani pilots in Vietnam and Malaysia were grounded on a temporary basis 84 Reports on 16 July 2020 stated that the US Federal Aviation Administration downgraded Pakistan s air safety rating to category 2 This decision means no Pakistani airlines can establish new services to the United States or codeshare with US airlines 85 On 18 July PIA dismissed seven pilots and one member of cabin crew whose licences had been revoked by the country s Civil Aviation Authority CAA 86 On 28 December the EU ban was extended for three more months stating that an official inspection of the CAA would have to be performed first 87 On 16 March 2021 the ban was extended to July 88 Less than a month later the ban was extended indefinitely following another safety concern regarding the CAA that was made public by the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO ICAO has yet to perform safety audit of the CAA 89 The European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA stated that the ICAO s safety audit would be a sign of improvement 90 On 6 November 2021 the first sign of improvement appeared when the CAA received positive feedback from Europe s Safety Audit for Foreign Origin Aircraft SAFA 91 92 As reported in the Express Tribune on August 28 2021 the European Union officials had requested evacuation support from Pakistani authorities as the window for airlifting was narrowing The member states had so far evacuated the bulk of their diplomatic corps and local staff from Kabul On August 30 2021 a Pakistan International Airlines PIA plane carrying desperately needed medical supplies landed in Afghanistan the World Health Organization said the first such flight since the Taliban took control of the country two weeks prior citation needed Corporate management EditStructure Edit Pakistan International Airlines regional office located in Lahore Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited PIACL is majority owned by the Government of Pakistan 86 while the remainder 14 is owned by private shareholders The airline is under the administration of Aviation Division and is managed by a president and chief executive officer as well as the board of directors The board consists of nine independent non executive members and has four sub committees an Audit Committee Brand and Advertising Committee Finance Committee and Human Resource Committee each having its charter and chairman The president and chief executive officer leads the executive management of staff who run the airline The airline s main headquarters are located at Karachi 93 while smaller subhead offices are located in several cities within Pakistan Seven of PIA s ten departments are in Islamabad viz Marketing Department Procedure Bureau Central Reservation Control Revenue Management HR and Security and Vigilance Department 94 The remaining three departments are in Karachi namely finance engineering and situation room 94 Privatization Edit In the late 1990s the Government of Pakistan announced privatisation plans due to the persistent losses suffered by the airline but they were never implemented however several steps towards the outsourcing of non core businesses were initiated Catering units starting with Karachi Flight Kitchen ground handling starting with ramp services and engineering are to gradually leave the airline and operate as independent companies In 1997 Pakistan called in a team from International Finance IFC the consulting arm of the World Bank to advise on restructuring and privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines PIA However no agreement was reached 95 Despite the government s multiple privatisation plans on 18 February 2009 the carrier was dropped from the privatisation list 96 In 2013 the Government of Pakistan once again aimed to privatise the airline due to increased losses by selling twenty six percent of shares and management control to the investor This plan was dropped due to protests by airline unions and associations after security forces killed two employees approaching the Jinnah International Airport terminal building In 2018 the newly elected government aimed to not privatise the entity and instead achieve profitability through the change in its top management 97 Financial performance Edit In 2011 PIA began to be unprofitable requiring government subsidies 57 By the end of 2016 the airline was saddled with 3 billion in debt 58 At the end of 2018 the airline was burdened with 3 3 billion in debt up from 2 97 the year before and thus requiring government bailouts for continued operation 64 In April 2019 PIA claimed that its revenues almost matched operating costs 68 An audit in September 2019 revealed that PIA had operated 46 empty flights between 2016 and 2017 without any passengers causing a loss of 1 1 million to the airline Additionally 36 Hajj flights were flown without any passengers 98 By the end of 2019 PIA reported a 41 increase in year on year revenue due to discontinuation of unprofitable routes reintroduction of idle aircraft and a sharp increase in the airline cargo space utilization 73 The airline faces many challenges to its profitability PIA is considered one of the cheapest airlines 99 Pakistan faces what has been termed capacity dumping by Middle East airlines who operate numerous daily flights to every major city in Pakistan 61 Pakistan s Open Skies Agreement with the UAE for example allows Emirati airlines an unlimited number of seats into Karachi with Emirates airline alone operating up to seven daily flights to Karachi from Dubai on high capacity Boeing 777s 61 PIA also discontinued previously profitable routes to the US as the TSA forbade nonstop flights from Pakistan to the US and instead required costly diversions to European airports for immigration clearance resulting in flight times that were significantly longer than flights on Middle Eastern airlines 61 New routes such as to Najaf and Thailand also did not improve the airline s finances given the seasonality of those destinations 61 Further staffing levels and overall management issues including an employee count of 18 014 in 2010 for a fleet of 40 aircraft 100 101 present further challenges although in August 2019 PIA laid off 1 000 redundant employees 70 Revenues Year Revenues PKR in million Profit loss PKR in million Employees ave 2021 27 641 25 013 102 2020 94 989 34 643 103 2019 147 500 52 602 104 2018 65 723 48 000 13 000 approx 2017 90 844 44 110 2016 88 997 45 381 14 000 approx 105 2015 104 515 34 995 15 0002014 113 780 34 006 16 0002013 95 771 44 322 16 6042012 97 438 33 844 17 4392011 116 551 26 767 18 0142010 107 532 20 785 18 0192009 94 564 5 822 17 9442008 88 863 36 139 18 0362007 70 481 13 399 18 1492006 70 587 12 763 18 2822005 64 074 4 412 19 2632004 57 788 2 307 19 634In 2010 PIA carried 1 454 000 kg of mail in 2013 PIA managed just 648 000 kg of mail Additionally PIA s revenue from excess baggage passenger load factor and passenger kilometre flow have been declining steadily 106 Passenger traffic Year Revenue passengers million Passenger loadfFactor Average passenger stage distance statute KM 2014 4 202 72 2 8332013 4 449 70 2 7512012 5 236 70 2 6502011 5 953 72 2 6312010 5 538 74 2 8272009 5 535 70 2 5102008 5 617 71 2 4792007 5 415 67 2 5272006 5 732 69 2 6392005 5 499 70 2 638In 2011 about 81 of revenue was from passenger traffic and only 5 from cargo Another 7 8 was from food and beverage sales The remaining 6 was from various sources such as excess baggage charges air charter services aircraft maintenance engineering services ground handling and related services and carriage of mail 101 Destinations EditMain article List of Pakistan International Airlines destinations As of November 2019 PIA serves 19 domestic and 24 international destinations in 16 countries across Asia the Middle East Europe and North America PIA with its Interline agreements and codeshare partner airlines offers a wider choice of travel in 102 international destinations in 40 countries across the world with different flight connections Codeshare agreements Edit PIA has Codeshare agreements with the following airlines 107 108 China Southern Airlines Etihad Airways Thai Airways Turkish Airlines Interline agreements Edit PIA have Interline agreements with the following airlines 107 Air Canada Air China Air France All Nippon Airways Batik Air Malaysia Malaysia Airlines Scandinavian Airlines SriLankan Airlines Swiss International Air Lines WestJet Cargo SPA agreements Edit PIA have Cargo Special Pro rate Agreements with the following airlines 109 Air Canada Air China American Airlines British Airways Delta Air Lines EgyptAir Emirates Gulf Air Kenya Airways Korean Air Malaysia Airlines Philippine Airlines Qantas Saudia SriLankan Airlines Thai Airways Turkish Airlines United AirlinesFleet EditCurrent fleet Edit PIA Airbus A320 200 PIA Boeing 777 200ER As of August 2022 update the Pakistan International Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft 110 111 112 Pakistan International Airlines fleet Aircraft In service Orders Passengers NotesC Y Y TotalAirbus A320 200 16 8 150 158 Two aircraft painted in retro 1960 livery 180 180Boeing 777 200ER 6 35 294 329 One aircraft painted in a 1960s retro livery Could be phased out by 2024 Business class to be phased out in three aircraft 113 114 115 25 319Boeing 777 200LR 4 35 275 310 Launch customer 9 Could be phased out by 2024 To be refurbished 114 116 115 Boeing 777 300ER 4 35 358 393 Older aircraft could be phased out by 2024 Business class to be phased out in two aircraft 117 114 115 ATR 42 500 4 48 48ATR 72 500 4 70 70 Two aircraft in storage 118 Total 36Former fleet Edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message PIA Douglas DC 8 21 leased in 1977 1978 PIA Airbus A310 300 landed at Germany Frankfurt Airport 25 April 2004 PIA Airbus A321 taking off from Islamabad Airport 2006 PIA Boeing 747 300 taking off from the Multan International Airport for a Hajj flight 28 October 2010 Aircraft Total Introduced Retired NotesAirbus A300B4 200 11 1980 2005 AP BCP written off as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268Airbus A310 300 12 1991 2016Airbus A321 200 2 2006 2007Airbus A330 300 1 2016 2017 59 ATR 72 500 2 2015 2020 119 Two aircraft in storage 120 Boeing 707 320C 13 1960 1999 One written off as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 740 Boeing 720B 9 1962 1986 One written off as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705 Boeing 737 300 8 1985 2014Boeing 737 400 2 2004 2005Boeing 737 800 4 2014 2015Boeing 747 200B 6 1976 2005Boeing 747 200B Combi 2 1979 2011Boeing 747 300 6 1999 2015 Bought from Cathay PacificConvair CV 240 4 1947 1959de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter 8 1970 2001Douglas DC 3 15 1947 1967Douglas DC 8 21F 1 1977 1978Douglas DC 61CF 1 1977 1978Fokker F27 200 Friendship 24 1961 2006 One went missing as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 404 Another one crashed as Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688 Fokker F27 400 Friendship 1 1961 2003Fokker F27 600 Friendship 5 1966 1986Hiller UH 12E4 1 1963 1971Hawker Siddeley Trident 1E 4 1966 1970Lockheed L 100 382B 4C Hercules 2 1966 1966Lockheed L 1049C Super Constellation 3 1954 1969Lockheed L 1049H Super Constellation 2 1958 1969McDonnell Douglas DC 10 30 5 1974 1986Mil Mi 8 MTV 1 1 1995 1997Sikorsky S 61N 4 1963 1967Tupolev Tu 154 4 1996 1997Vickers Viscount 815 5 1956 1966Livery Edit PIA s 1980s legacy tail which became an identity for the airline In December 2003 PIA introduced a new image that was applied to its first Boeing 777 200ER and on two newly leased Airbus A310s one of which was in service The livery was white at the front and beige at the rear separated by a dark green stripe The tail was painted white with a new typeface PIA acronym written in dark green The Pakistan title was added to the front fuselage in all raised letters and the engine cowlings were painted in beige The PIA logo written in calligraphic Urdu was added just behind the cockpit However due to criticism the design was modified before the first Boeing 777 was delivered The tail logo was replaced by a flowing Pakistan flag on a beige background The Pakistan titles were removed and the PIA acronym was enlarged and moved onto the fuselage The English and Urdu PIA titles remained the same The leased A310s and most of the PIA fleet also adopted this livery at a later date A PIA Boeing 747 300 painted in a Frontier livery In early 2006 the airline launched four new tail designs for its fleet The tails represented the four provinces of Pakistan Sindh Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan The tails promoted the cultures of the four provinces of Pakistan by applying motifs to the tails and adding a city name to the rear of the fuselage corresponding to the province The Frontier tail represented the Phulkari flowering pattern which reflected a tradition of embroidery generally done on shawls shirts and linen The Punjab tail was loosely related to the tile decoration of the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore The Balochistan tail showed the creativity seen in the local kilims carpets and rugs woven with wool goat or camel hair and mixed yarn The pattern was mostly bold geometric motifs in primary colours dominated by red The Sindh tail was influenced by the Hala tile work with electric blue and white floral patterns In 2009 management stopped the application of provincial tails deeming them too costly PIA launched its new livery in mid April 2010 An Airbus A310 Boeing 777 200 and Boeing 747 300 were the first aircraft to wear the new look The livery was unveiled at the PIA headquarters on a Boeing 777 model The livery consisted of a green and gold strip running around the bottom of the fuselage and continuing right up until the tail cone The forward upper portion was white and at the rear it was an off white beige colour The bottom part of the tail blended into the upper fuselage as it too is white with the rest of the tail painted with a large wavy Pakistan flag which takes up the whole tail in a dark green colour At the front of the fuselage PIA was written in a billboard style in dark green and underneath Pakistan was written in golden colour Just behind the cockpit there is a stylised Urdu PIA logo as well as on the engines In July 2014 on the delivery of the first A320 series aircraft PIA introduced a crescent and star on the aircraft engines cowlings in place of the Urdu PIA logo In 2015 after the completion of sixty years service the 1960s livery was applied to three of the Airbus A320s and on one Boeing 777 200ER In 2018 Pakistan s national animal Markhor was chosen to be introduced as the brand identity on aircraft tail However later the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu action and barred PIA from using the Markhor as brand identity only one Airbus A320 was painted in the livery In April 2018 PIA formally launched a new brand identity and livery and added a portrait of the Markhor in a ceremony held at PIA Offices in Islamabad presented by the then head of brand of PIA having Pakistan s national animal represented on its aircraft including a large one on the tail and two on the engines describing the resilient nature of PIA Brand surviving under the onslaught of all the negativity associated with the brand Logo of PIA with Kashmiri Markhor depicted used in 2018 The symbol of animal was chosen for its universal recognition as the Urdu calligraphy logo of PIA could not be comprehended by non Pakistani customers In essence the idea was to make PIA a truly international brand based on the values of resilience grace and fortitude something which PIA had lost with increased focus on ethnic traffic The tail had a forward leaping Markhor having long screw horns which are the features of Kashmiri Markhor endemic to Pakistan only According to the initial plan a euro white style was chosen and existing green and golden strips were removed from the aircraft fuselage along with off white beige colour on the rear fuselage but later a major rebranding was carried out The font of the PIA logo was also changed and added to the fuselage For the first time legacy PIA colours Pakistan green and mustard gold were dropped and a blue texture was added in the PIA acronym expanding the colour palette for the brand Urdu PIA logo colour was also changed from the yellow green gradient texture The airline s slogan was also changed to We Fly at the Right Attitude from Great People to Fly With The first aircraft with the redesigned livery was converted on 12 May 2018 and rolled out of Isphani Hangar by the method of decals to make a debut at the New Islamabad International Airport 121 122 The re branding was halted on Suo Moto Notice taken by Supreme Court of Pakistan on fears of spending millions on the rebranding and not paying the salary of the staff on time The Supreme Court of Pakistan suo motu notice barred PIA from using the Markhor logo as its brand identity Supreme Court later gave orders to retain the flag on the tail and disposed off the case However with management change the re branding was abandoned altogether 123 124 Currently the airline is operating a hybrid livery which features a euro white fuselage and gold Urdu logo in front of the front exits and engine cowling while the flag tail English PIA and Pakistan International in gold titles in dark green and Pakistan titles in dark green on the belly have been retained from the 2010 livery The PIA corporate website was also added ahead of the aft exits Currently five Boeing 777s and three A320s are sporting this livery Services EditCabin Edit PIA operates a three class configuration on its domestic routes Business Class Executive Economy and Economy On international flights a two class configuration Executive Economy and Economy class has been introduced since January 2019 PIA has retained Business class only on domestic flights operated by Boeing 777s PIA Business and Executive Economy passengers are offered recliner seats on all Boeing 777 aircraft Seats with more legroom and vacant middle seat are offered in Executive Economy on board the Airbus A320 aircraft In Economy class all passengers on the Boeing 777 are offered seats with 30 inch legroom and personal entertainment screens in a 3 3 3 configuration On the Airbus A320 fabric covered seats in a 3 3 configuration are offered Catering Edit PIA Catering is the main supplier of meals for the airline at Islamabad and Karachi It can produce 15 000 passenger meals each day In 2006 the management of the flight kitchens was given to Singapore Air Terminal Services SATS This agreement ended in 2011 and PIA is managing the Flight Kitchens in Karachi and Islamabad itself As of April 2019 an MOU was signed between PIA and McDonald s for the airlines catering PIA Catering provides special meals to allow for passengers dietary and religious needs No alcoholic beverages or pork are served on board due to Islamic dietary laws 125 PIA Premier service Edit PIA Premier was launched as a luxury air service on 14 August 2016 An Airbus A330 aircraft was initially wet leased from SriLankan Airlines to operate the service 59 There were six weekly flights to London three each from Islamabad and Lahore 126 In flight magazine Edit The PIA in flight magazine Humsafar Urdu for travel companion is provided to all passengers on all international flights Humsafar was introduced in 1980 and is printed and published bi monthly In flight entertainment Edit Pakistan International Airlines was the first international airline to introduce entertainment system showing a regularly scheduled film on board in the year 1962 127 128 In flight Internet Edit In January 2017 the airline began trials on an on board internet system to deliver in flight entertainment on some domestic flights The system allows passengers to access a selection of in flight entertainment content using their own mobile devices 129 PIA offers personal screens on Boeing 777 flights with in flight movies music and TV shows The Boeing 777 IFE also features an inflight map and air show Selected A320s feature drop down screens with in flight map and air show Frequent flyer program Edit PIA Awards Plus is the frequent flyer program The program allows passengers to get free tickets excess baggage vouchers cabin upgrades and a variety of rewards special deals and discounts Awards Plus has three tiers of membership Emerald Sapphire and Diamond Awards Plus miles can be earned by flying PIA and by using the products and services of PIA s partners Precision Engineering Complex Edit The Precision Engineering Complex PEC includes the following facilities Binocular Assembly Calibration Facility Glass Fibre Composite Manufacturing Investment Casting Facility Machine Shop Material Testing Laboratory Non Destructive Testing Facility Optics Printed Circuit Boards PCB Plating Facilities Packaging Plant Shot Peening 130 Ground handling Edit PIA provides ground handling services to the following airlines Air China China Southern Airlines Gulf Air Qatar Airways Oman Air Saudia SriLankan Airlines Uzbekistan Airways 131 Cargo operations Edit PIA Boeing 707C operating Cargo aircraft taxiing at Charles de Gaulle Airport France on 14 August 1994 PIA operates a cargo delivery system within Pakistan PIA Cargo transports goods across Pakistan as well as to international destinations These goods include meat and vegetables textiles paper products laboratory equipment and postal mail During the early 1970s PIA operated a service called Air Express that delivered documents and parcels within Pakistan In 1974 PIA launched a dedicated cargo division within its organisation using two Boeing 707 320C This division was known as Pakistan International Cargo The airline operated several cargo flights to the Middle East such as Dubai and Europe especially London The operations ended in the late 1990s when both aircraft were phased out During 2004 to 2007 the airline again operated two Airbus A300 Freighter aircraft chartered through MNG Airlines to Haan Luton Amsterdam Basel and Cologne However again the contract ended and PIA discontinued this service In 2003 the airline launched PIA Speedex a courier service initially in Karachi Lahore Rawalpindi and Islamabad This expanded to twelve cities within a year Today the airline serves over 70 locations within Pakistan with shipments collected and delivered from customers homes In 2019 the new PIA management experienced a sharp increase in the airline s cargo space utilization from 20 percent to almost 80 percent 73 PIA currently offers cargo service for these international destinations Abu Dhabi Bangkok Barcelona Birmingham China Beijing Copenhagen Doha Dubai Jeddah Kabul Kuala Lumpur London Manchester Medina Milan Muscat Najaf Oslo Paris Riyadh Sharjah Tokyo Narita and Toronto Canada 132 Corporate sponsorship EditThe airline has sponsored events both within Pakistan and in its overseas markets In the 1990s the airline launched the three green stripe livery to represent its support for sports The airline supports the Pakistan International Airlines first class cricket team that plays in the Quaid i Azam Trophy and Patron s Trophy PIA sponsors the PIA football club and the A1 Team Pakistan in the A1 Grand Prix open wheel auto racing series when it was initially launched The airline also promotes the Shandur Polo Gala that takes place every year in the Chitral and Gilgit regions of northern Pakistan during the summer period 133 PIA has had its own Sports Division since 1958 promoting sports within Pakistan such as cricket hockey football squash polo tennis bridge chess table tennis cycling and bodybuilding PIA has its own Boy Scouts Association PIA BSA working in partnership with Pakistan Boy Scouts Association After a devastating earthquake in 2005 PIA BSA worked in partnership with other charity organisations to provide relief help PIA was one of the official sponsors of the Destination Pakistan 2007 festivals The official logo was added to a select number of aircraft during the year 134 In 2008 PIA teamed up with mobile phone provider Ufone to provide air miles to passengers who used the mobile network Standard Chartered Bank and PIA launched credit cards allowing passengers to earn air miles 135 In 2009 PIA was the gold sponsor for Logistics Pakistan an Exhibition and Conference poised to highlight the emerging opportunities for the Logistics sector in Pakistan In 2009 PIA and the Pakistan Remittance Initiative PRI formed a strategic alliance to promote world money transfers 136 PIA has Planetariums in Karachi and Lahore that enable the public to see static aircraft as well as astronomy shows PIA Horticulture set up in 1996 provides flowers for display in PIA s offices and events winning awards and accolades at flower exhibitions across the country The airline supports non profit organisations within Pakistan such as Al Shifa Trust Zindagi Trust The Citizens Foundation and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation 137 In 2009 PIA teamed up with the fast food franchise McDonald s to offer passengers discounts on meals and upgrades 138 PIA also owns three hotels the Roosevelt Hotel the Scribe Hotel and Skyrooms Private Limited 139 The airline also has an agreement with Pearl Continental Hotels for its UAE based passengers 140 Charter and special services EditState officials transportation Edit Callsign PAKISTAN 001 carrying the President on PIA s Boeing 707 Photographed at Munich Airport in West Germany circa 1961 PIA has been continuously serving government officials of Pakistan and has always transported the President and Prime Minister on overseas visits During the late 1990s a PIA Boeing 737 300 141 better source needed was used for official visits by the Bhutto and Sharif governments The aircraft wore official government colours but was later repainted in the airline official colours at the end of the decade When the government changed after a military coup in 1999 the Boeing 737 300 was transferred to PIA permanently The President and Prime Minister then resorted to using two of PIA s Airbus A310 300s for official visits while rare trips were done on regular commercial flights of the airline In February 2007 the government of Qatar gifted an Airbus A310 from its VIP fleet 142 better source needed to the Pakistani government this ended the need for the use of PIA aircraft However from time to time the government uses one of the airline s Airbus A320s or occasionally a Boeing 777 for official trips 143 Charter services Edit PIA operates private charter flights using ATR 42s to Bhit Kadanwari and Sehwan Sharif in Sindh as well as to other parts of the country for oil and gas companies and other customers Ad hoc charters for United Nations peacekeeping troops are also carried out to Africa and Eastern Europe Asia South Korea Afghanistan Tajikistan East Timor and many other international destinations PIA Charter Team provides these services Hajj and Umrah operations Edit PIA operates a two month pre and post Hajj operation each year to and from Saudi Arabia PIA transported over 100 000 intending pilgrims each year to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until its fleet shrank to 25 aircraft in 2011 2012 Since then the airline s Hajj quota was reduced to 60 00 to 70 000 pilgrims by the then government Special servicesA PIA plane carrying desperately needed medical supplies landed in Afghanistan on Monday when the World Health Organisation said the first such flight since the Taliban took control of the country two weeks prior He who further thanked Pakistan for providing the Boeing 777 plane for the delivery It was the first of three flights planned with PIA and the WHO said it was working to ensure this week s shipment is the first of many PIA Chief Executive Officer CEO Arshad Malik said it was the national flag carrier s moral responsibility to help people in Afghanistan PIA will continue humanitarian missions on the instructions of the Pakistan government and the aviation minister he said in a statement 144 PIA Township EditPIA Township پی آئی اے ٹاؤن شپPIA ColonyTownship Front south entranceCoordinates 24 53 25 5 N 67 08 27 8 E 24 890417 N 67 141056 E 24 890417 67 141056CountryPakistanProvinceSindhDivisionKarachiDistrictEast KarachiNeighbourhoodPakistan Civil Aviation AuthorityEstablished1960s citation needed Area Total0 20 km2 0 08 sq mi Elevation20 4 m 66 8 ft Population 2020 citation needed Total 7 000 Density35 000 km2 90 000 sq mi Time zoneUTC 5 PST Postal code75290Area code34PIA Township Urdu پی آئی اے ٹاؤن شپ commonly known as PIA Colony is Pakistan International Airlines flat complex which is a major residential gated community located in Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority in Karachi The township was built for PIA employees It has 1 176 flats It is next to the Jinnah International Airport PIA Model Secondary School Edit PIA Model Secondary SchoolLocation Karachi SindhPakistanCoordinates24 53 25 5 N 67 08 27 8 E 24 890417 N 67 141056 E 24 890417 67 141056 Coordinates 24 53 25 5 N 67 08 27 8 E 24 890417 N 67 141056 E 24 890417 67 141056InformationTypeSecondaryEstablished1980PresidentRashid ZafferDeanRashid Amin DarPrincipalShagufta HamidHead of schoolWing Cdr R Raheel AhmedGradesPrep to 10Enrollment1500 145 Color s GreenAffiliationBSEWebsitehttps piamodelsecondaryschool business site PIA Model Secondary School PIAMSS also known as PIA Model School is a single gender education school in PIA Township operated by Pakistan International Airlines It was set up in 1980 to provide high quality education to the children of PIA employees at an affordable fee Accidents and incidents EditThe airline has lost more than 30 aircraft in crashes and other events including 20 fatal crashes There have also been at least eight hijacking incidents involving the airline s aircraft between 1971 and 2017 In October 1952 an Orient Airways flight carrying cargo from Karachi to Dacca crashed One of three was killed in this crash On Monday 3 August 1953 the Douglas DC 3 registered AP AAD was operating on a hajj flight carrying pilgrims from Karachi to Jeddah via Sharjah and Bahrain The leg to Bahrain was to be flown by the first officer from the left hand seat Shortly after takeoff the aircraft entered a steep descending turn The captain took over control but could not recover the aircraft The Douglas DC 3 struck the ground One of 25 was killed in this crash The accident resulted from the loss of control of the aircraft by the first officer shortly after taking off on a dark night when instrument flying was necessary This loss of control was due to the inability of the first officer to fly on instruments The responsibility for the accident is attributed to the captain for failing to supervise the piloting of the aircraft by the first officer Pakistan International Airlines experienced its first recorded hull loss in 1956 a Douglas DC 3 flew into a mountain on 25 February while on a cargo flight from Gilgit to Islamabad in poor weather killing the three crew members on board 146 On 1 July 1957 a Douglas DC 3 registered AP AJS operating a domestic flight from Chittagong to Dhaka in East Pakistan now Bangladesh crashed on a mudflat in the Bay of Bengal killing all 20 passengers and four crew members on board 147 On 15 May 1958 a Convair CV 240 with the registration AP AEH operating as Flight 205 from Delhi to Karachi crashed and caught fire moments after it took off from Delhi s Palam Airport on a moonless night in dusty conditions The investigation attributed the crash to the captain experiencing a night somatogravic illusion resulting in the aircraft descending shortly after it became airborne Four of the six crew members and 21 of the 38 passengers on board were killed two people on the ground were also killed 148 On 18 May 1959 a four month old Vickers Viscount with the registration AP AJC was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Islamabad International Airport The aircraft ran off the runway into a rainwater channel there were no fatalities 149 Three months after the first Viscount crash the airline lost another on 14 August 1959 The Viscount registered AP AJE crashed at Karachi International Airport during a pilot training flight while attempting an overshoot with two engines inoperative Two of the three people on board were killed 150 On 26 March 1965 a Douglas DC 3 registered AP AAH crashed in mountainous terrain near the Lowari Pass on a domestic flight from Peshawar to Chitral killing the four crew members and 18 of the 22 passengers on board 151 The memorial tablet at the crash site in Cairo for those who died on PIA Flight 705 on 20 May 1965 Eight weeks later on 20 May 1965 a Boeing 720 operating as Flight 705 crashed while descending to land on Runway 34 at Cairo International Airport resulting in 121 fatalities On 8 October 1965 a Fokker F27 Friendship with less than 500 hours flying time since it was delivered new to the airline earlier in the year crashed while on a domestic cargo flight from Rawalpindi to Skardu The aircraft registered AP ATT hit a ridge near the village of Patian and slid down its side the remains coming to rest more than 1 000 feet 300 m below the impact point The four crew members on board were killed 152 On 2 February 1966 Flight 17 operated by a Sikorsky S 61 helicopter crashed on a scheduled domestic flight in East Pakistan after the main gearbox failed killing 23 of the 24 passengers and crew on board On 6 August 1970 a Fokker F27 Friendship registered AP ALM operating a domestic flight from Rawalpindi to Lahore crashed at high speed a few minutes after taking off from Rawalpindi in stormy weather All 26 passengers and four crew members on board were killed 153 On 3 December 1971 a French national s attempt to hijack a PIA flight Boeing 720B from Paris to Karachi was thwarted by French security forces 32 On 8 December 1972 a Fokker F27 Friendship registered AP AUS operating a domestic flight between Gilgit and Rawalpindi in rainy weather as Flight 631 crashed in mountainous terrain There were no survivors among the 22 passengers and four crew members on board 154 On 20 January 1978 a PIA Fokker F27 registered AP ALW aircraft at Karachi with 22 passengers on board was hijacked by a gunman who asked to be flown to India The then chairman of PIA Air Marshal Retd Nur Khan boarded the aircraft to negotiate with the hijacker He received a gunshot wound while trying to disarm the hijacker but still managed to overpower him 155 156 On 26 November 1979 Flight 740 was a Boeing 707 320C that crashed after takeoff from Jeddah International Airport for a flight to Karachi resulting in 156 fatalities On 2 March 1981 Flight 326 was hijacked by three gunmen and flown to Kabul For almost two weeks more than 100 passengers were held captive on the Boeing 720 until Pakistan released 55 prisoners One passenger Pakistani diplomat Tariq Rahim was murdered during the ordeal 157 better source needed On 4 February 1986 a Boeing 747 registered as AP AYW made a belly landing at Islamabad Airport around 9 00 am The aircraft was operating Flight 300 from Karachi with 247 passengers and 17 crew members on board Everyone survived this accident caused by pilot error 158 better source needed On 23 October 1986 a Fokker F27 aircraft crashed during approach to Peshawar Airport Of the 54 passengers and crew on board 13 were killed in the accident 159 On 25 August 1989 a Fokker F27 operating as Flight 404 disappeared shortly after taking off from Gilgit Airport All 54 passengers and crew on board were presumed killed 160 Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 Crashsite in Kathmandu s Tribhuvan International Airport on 28 September 1992 On 28 September 1992 Flight 268 an Airbus A300 B4 200 registration AP BCP crashed on approach to Kathmandu s Tribhuvan International Airport All 167 on board were killed On December 27 1997 a Pakistan Airlines Boeing 747 plane from Karachi to London crashed when landing at Dubai international airport It overshot the runway and went through the perimeter wall before coming to rest No one was killed 161 On 25 May 1998 a Fokker F27 Friendship operating as Flight 544 was hijacked All passengers and crew escaped unhurt On 1 March 2004 Pakistan International Airlines Flight 2002 Airbus A300B4 203 registration AP BBA burst two tires whilst taking off from King Abdulaziz International Airport Fragments of the tire were ingested by the engines which caused the engines to catch fire and an aborted takeoff was performed Due to the fire substantial damage to the engine and the left wing caused the aircraft to be written off All 261 passengers and 12 crew survived 162 163 On 10 July 2006 Flight 688 a Fokker F27 operating from Multan to Lahore and then to Islamabad crashed in a field 164 after bursting into flames a few minutes after takeoff 165 from Multan International Airport All 41 passengers and four crew members on board were killed On September 25 2010 a PIA Boeing 777 200LR registered AP BGY flying from Toronto to Karachi made an emergency landing at Stockholm Arlanda Airport after a phone call was made claiming a passenger on board was armed with explosives After the plane landed in Stockholm it was parked at an emergency stand and the suspected passenger was removed from the plane by Swedish authorities The rest of the passengers were also removed and the empty aircraft was searched The plane and passengers were allowed to depart Sweden while the suspect was detained in the country for further investigation but was later released after no evidence was found of the allegation made against him 166 167 168 On 31 August 2012 ATR 42 500 registration AP BHJ operating Flight 653 from Islamabad to Lahore was landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport when it undershot the runway and came to rest on a grassy area on the right side of Runway 36R There were no fatalities among the 42 passengers and four crew members The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and withdrawn from service 169 On 11 February 2013 a Boeing 737 aircraft registered AP BEH was operating Flight 259 from Islamabad to Muscat via Sialkot when its port side main landing gear collapsed during landing at Muscat International Airport There were no fatalities among the 107 passengers and seven crew members on board The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and withdrawn from service On 24 June 2014 Airbus A310 300 registration AP BGN was operating Flight 756 from Riyadh to Peshawar with 178 passengers and 12 crew members on board when it was hit by gunfire during its landing approach at Bacha Khan International Airport Peshawar The aircraft landed safely but one passenger was killed and two crew members were injured The aircraft was damaged but it was later ferried to Karachi for repair 170 On 7 December 2016 Flight 661 operated by an ATR 42 500 aircraft registered AP BHO crashed in Havelian Pakistan while en route from Chitral to Islamabad killing all 47 on board 171 On 22 May 2020 Flight 8303 operated by an Airbus A320 AP BLD crashed while on final approach to Jinnah International Airport Karachi arriving from Lahore According to CAA sources PIA Airbus A320 from Lahore was about to land in Karachi when it crashed at the Jinnah Garden area near Model Colony in Malir CAA sources said that its communication with the plane had been cut off one minute prior to the landing 99 people were on board two passengers survived while 97 on board including eight crew members were killed Additional fatalities on the ground were unconfirmed The Aviation Herald reported that the pilots had aborted the approach to Karachi due to landing gear issues and performed a go around Attempting to make a second approach the crew requested to turn left moments before touchdown immediately reporting they had lost both engines and declaring mayday Soon after the aircraft lost height and crashed into flames in the Model Colony residential area at about 14 40 local time A ground observer reported that the aircraft suddenly became silent in its final seconds of flight 172 173 See also EditList of airlines of Pakistan Transport in PakistanReferences Edit a b Destinations Archived from the original on 17 September 2018 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Annual Report 2006 Part I Pakistan International Airlines 3 April 2007 Archived from the original PDF on 6 January 2019 Retrieved 14 August 2007 PIA starts clearing VSS dues after months delay www thenews com pk Retrieved 5 August 2022 History Pakistan International Airlines web piac com pk Archived from the original on 6 August 2020 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Administrator PIA history travels agencies com Retrieved 20 June 2016 a b History www piac com pk Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b gulf air boeing airbus 1987 2153 Flight Archive www flightglobal com Retrieved 8 November 2019 History of PIA Pakistan International Airlines historyofpia com Retrieved 20 June 2016 a b Boeing 777 200LR Worldliner Arrives at Paris Air Show Jun 10 2005 MediaRoom Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b Plane lands after longest non stop passenger flight Daily Telegraph 10 November 2005 ISSN 0307 1235 Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 Retrieved 13 January 2020 a b Platt Craig 18 December 2019 Qantas final ultra long haul test flight touches down after epic journey Traveller Retrieved 13 January 2020 Despite the long flight time the last Project Sunrise test flight falls well short of the world record for the longest flight by a commercial airliner That title belongs to Pakistan International Airline which flew a Boeing 777 200LR test flight from Hong Kong to London eastward taking a whopping 22 hours 22 minutes to complete the 21 600 kilometre journey Overseas assets Sale of PIA hotels likely to rake in 700 million The Express Tribune 30 April 2014 Retrieved 25 June 2016 Pakistan International Airlines PIA award plus www piac com pk Retrieved 28 July 2021 Hardman Jake 23 January 2022 Pakistan International Airlines Return To Europe Hits A Snag Simple Flying Retrieved 7 May 2022 Kaminski Morrow David 30 June 2020 PIA banned from European operations after mounting safety concerns Flight Global Retrieved 1 July 2020 U S bans Pakistan International Airlines flights over pilot concerns Reuters 10 July 2020 Retrieved 19 July 2020 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x RCD Collaboration in Air Transport digitool library mcgill ca July 1972 pp 66 100 Retrieved 8 November 2019 Formation of Muslim owned economic institutions 1940 1947 Archived from the original on 7 February 2009 Pakistani International Airlines About PIA History Archived from the original on 4 December 2013 Retrieved 20 March 2014 History www piac com pk Retrieved 28 July 2021 About PIA History Archived 4 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine PIA official website Retrieved 1 August 2010 Newspaper the 28 December 2011 Nur Khan a man of integrity DAWN COM Retrieved 28 July 2021 Aviation Photo 2342874 Boeing 720 040B Pakistan International Airlines PIA Airliners net a b RCD Collaboration in Air Transport digitool library mcgill ca July 1972 p 75 Retrieved 8 November 2019 Crilly Rob 31 May 2014 PIA s flightpath out of turbulent times Daily Telegraph ISSN 0307 1235 Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 Retrieved 8 November 2019 It was the first Asian airline to operate jetliners Boeing 707s Air India Part 1 Airways Magazine 4 May 2016 Archived from the original on 8 November 2019 Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b c Commerce United States Congress House Committee on Interstate and Foreign 1974 International Air Transportation Competition Hearings Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Aeronautics Ninety third Congress Second Session U S Government Printing Office pp 65 67 fai org FAI Record File Number 7679 Archived from the original on 22 September 2017 a b Fricker John 29 May 1969 PIA Looks Ahead Flight International p 867 Retrieved 27 February 2015 About PIA History PIA Archived from the original on 4 December 2013 Retrieved 1 August 2010 Aviation Photo 0058284 Fokker F 27 200 Friendship Pakistan International Airlines PIA Airliners net a b Times Henry Kamm Special to The New York 4 December 1971 Paris Police Thwart Airliner Hijacking The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 8 November 2019 Air Pictorial Air League of the British Empire 1974 Pakistan Affairs Information Division Embassy of Pakistan 1976 Pakistan Year Book East amp West Publishing Company 1978 PIA 1972 pakistan Google Search www google com Retrieved 8 November 2019 Thomas Andrew R 30 October 2008 Aviation Security Management 3 volumes ABC CLIO ISBN 9780313346538 a b Grant Tina 2002 International Directory of Company Histories St James Press ISBN 9781558624641 Data Asia Press Foundation of Asia 1978 Pakistan Economist S Akhtar Ali July 1981 a b Wragg David 2007 The World s Major Airlines Sutton ISBN 9780750944816 a b c Lynch James J 11 November 1984 Airline Organization in the 1980s An Industry Report on Strategies and Structures for Coping withChange Springer ISBN 9781349076307 Pakistan Affairs Information Division Embassy of Pakistan 1982 Pakistan Affairs The Embassy 1984 Technology Policies and Planning Pakistan Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology 1986 Pakistan Affairs Information Division Embassy of Pakistan 1985 Pakistan Year Book East amp West Publishing Company 1989 a b c d Fund International Monetary 2005 Pakistan Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix International Monetary Fund Breaking new ground at 30 000 feet South China Morning Post Retrieved 28 July 2021 a b Shukriya Khanum Pakistan s first female commercial pilot dies BBC News 15 May 2017 Retrieved 2 December 2020 Hasan Syed Shoaib 28 July 2010 Pakistan crash raises questions about air safety Retrieved 8 November 2019 EC inspects CAA operation Dawn Pakistan 22 February 2007 Retrieved 11 September 2013 Restrictions force PIA to suspend Frankfurt flight Dawn Pakistan 28 February 2007 Retrieved 11 September 2013 EU bans Pakistan airline flights BBC News Obtained 5 March 2007 Archived 26 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine Stiles Kendall 19 September 2014 State Responses to International Law Routledge ISBN 9781317652953 EU Lifts ban on PIA Archived 27 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine Brecorder Newspapers Retrieved 1 December 2007 a b STATE BANK OF PAKISTAN ANNUAL REPORT 2011 2012 THE STATE OF PAKISTAN S ECONOMY PDF p 21 a b c Once Pakistan s Pride Its Embattled National Airline Fights To Survive NPR org Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b c Chaudhry Javed 9 August 2016 PIA acquires three aircraft from SriLankan Airlines for Premier Service Dawn Pakistan Retrieved 10 August 2016 SriLankan CEO says wet lease with PIA most profitable deal in recent past DailyMirror 10 February 2017 Retrieved 19 February 2017 a b c d e f Shaw Smith Peter Pakistan Airlines Struggles To Overcome Structural Obstacles Aviation International News Retrieved 8 November 2019 PIA Finally Switches to a New Airline amp Passenger Management System propakistani pk 12 September 2018 T2RL T2RL Pakistan International Airlines chooses Hitit for PSS t2rl net a b Pakistan injects Rs 17bn to keep crashing airlines afloat Arab News 14 November 2018 Retrieved 8 November 2019 PIA records 30 pct increase in revenue in 1st half of 2019 report Xinhua English news cn www xinhuanet com Archived from the original on 20 August 2019 Retrieved 8 November 2019 Gender pay gap at LloydsPharmacy sees year on year increase The Pharmaceutical Journal 2019 doi 10 1211 pj 2019 20206407 ISSN 2053 6186 S2CID 239397136 PIA expects Rs 5 bn additional revenue Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b Reporter The Newspaper s Staff 25 September 2019 PIA CEO touts revenues but without any financial statements DAWN COM Retrieved 8 November 2019 Pakistan Wants to Resume Flights to the US TravelPulse Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b Pak flag carrier PIA lays off nearly 1 000 surplus employees The Economic Times 31 August 2019 Retrieved 8 November 2019 PIA to induct seven new planes to its fleet under new business plan ARY NEWS 13 September 2019 Retrieved 8 November 2019 Iqbal Amjad 17 September 2019 14 more aircraft being added to PIA fleet minister DAWN COM Retrieved 8 November 2019 a b c PIA finally showing signs of improvement Daily Times 8 November 2019 Retrieved 8 November 2019 PIA relief flight for Melbourne Australia The News International 25 April 2020 Retrieved 25 April 2020 John Tara Rahim Zamira 22 May 2020 Karachi crash Pakistani airliner crashes with over 100 on board CNN Dubious pilot licences do not pertain to PIA alone says national carrier Dawn 26 June 2020 Retrieved 26 June 2020 a b Asghar Mohammad 17 December 2020 Goal set to axe majority of PIA workers DAWN COM Pakistan airline suspends 150 pilots over alleged licence fraud www aljazeera com Retrieved 27 June 2020 Almost 1 in 3 pilots in Pakistan have fake licenses aviation minister says CNN Retrieved 27 June 2020 Pakistani pilots grounded over fake licences BBC News 25 June 2020 Retrieved 27 June 2020 PIA sacks seven pilots over licensing issue www geo tv E U Bans PIA From Airspace for Six Months Newsweek Pakistan 30 June 2020 Retrieved 30 June 2020 U S Bans Pakistan International Airlines Flights Over Pilot Concerns US News via Reuters 9 July 2020 Retrieved 10 July 2020 US bans Pakistan s PIA flights over pilots fake license La Prensa Times 10 July 2020 Retrieved 10 July 2020 FAA Downgrades Pakistan s Safety Rating To Category 2 Simple Flying 16 July 2020 PIA sacks seven pilots an air hostess www thenews com pk Retrieved 21 July 2020 Finlay Mark 28 December 2020 EU Extends Pakistan International Airlines Flight Ban By 3 Months Simple Flying Retrieved 22 January 2021 Asghar Mohammad Nazar Nuzhat 16 March 2021 EU US and UK operations PIA has to wait until July Business Recorder Retrieved 18 March 2021 Asghar Azfar 8 April 2021 European Union Aviation Safety Agency extends travel restrictions on PIA Dawn Retrieved 28 July 2021 ul Ashfaque Azfar 24 July 2021 SITUATIONER One year on hopes for lifting of EU curbs on PIA flights fade Dawn Retrieved 28 July 2021 PIA gets SAFA s safety ratings www thenews com pk 6 November 2021 Retrieved 1 December 2021 PCAA oversight brings positive results for PIA www thenews com pk 11 November 2021 Retrieved 1 December 2021 Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines PIA www piac com pk Archived from the original on 26 July 2014 Retrieved 27 September 2018 a b PIA Head Office being shifted to Islamabad The Express Tribune 3 March 2020 Retrieved 9 July 2020 PIA privatization Flight International Magazine printed 1 January 1997 assessed 9 March 2009 Pak Steel PIA dropped from privatization list permanent dead link The News Jang Newspapers Published 18 February 2009 assessed 9 March 2009 PTI s promises include turning around PIA PSM The Express Tribune 27 July 2018 PIA operates 46 flights without passengers Audit report The Economic Times 21 September 2019 Retrieved 23 September 2019 5 Cheapest Airlines in Gulf Cooperation Council GCC Gulf Guide 2 November 2019 Retrieved 16 November 2019 PIA Annual Report 2010 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 5 March 2016 Retrieved 11 September 2013 a b PIA Annual Report 2011 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 28 December 2013 Retrieved 11 September 2013 PIA HALF YEAR REPORT 2021 PDF 30 June 2021 Archived from the original on 21 November 2021 Retrieved 30 June 2021 PIA ANNUAL REPORT 2020 PDF 8 April 2021 Archived from the original on 27 August 2021 Retrieved 8 April 2021 PIA ANNUAL REPORT 2019 29 May 2020 Retrieved 29 May 2020 permanent dead link Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines PIA PDF Archived from the original PDF on 6 August 2020 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan International Airlines PIA PDF piac com pk Archived from the original PDF on 10 May 2017 Retrieved 7 November 2021 a b INTERLINE AND CODESHARE TRAVEL Pakistan International Airlines Archived from the original on 8 March 2022 Retrieved 27 September 2018 Etihad Airways and PIA relaunch codeshare partnership Etihad Airways PIA Cargo SPA Arrangements Pakistan International Airlines PIA Pakistan International Airlines Fleet Details and History Planespotters net 30 January 2021 Retrieved 30 January 2021 PIA Aircraft Seating Configuration piac com pk Archived from the original on 27 July 2012 Retrieved 3 January 2017 Boeing Orders and Deliveries boeing com 30 April 2021 Retrieved 31 May 2021 PIA Invites Bids for All Economy Conversion of Five Boeing 777 Aircraft History of PIA Forum historyofpia com Retrieved 6 November 2022 a b c Flying on PIA and Visit Pakistan 2021 Latest Update on PIA retrieved 8 March 2022 a b c Chui Sam 30 December 2021 Interview with PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik SamChui com Retrieved 8 March 2022 PIA to Restore IFE amp Refurbish Passenger Cabin of Two Boeing 777 200LR Aircraft With New Seats History of PIA Forum historyofpia com Retrieved 30 July 2022 PIA Invites Bids for All Economy Conversion of Five Boeing 777 Aircraft History of PIA Forum historyofpia com Retrieved 6 November 2022 History of PIA Pakistan International Airlines historyofpia com Retrieved 9 December 2022 INP 12 December 2020 PIA excludes ATR 72 airplanes from its fleet Profit by Pakistan Today Retrieved 12 December 2020 PIA operational fleet status Page 14 History of PIA Forum historyofpia com Retrieved 14 July 2022 Asghar Mohammad 6 April 2018 First plane to land at new Islamabad airport tomorrow Dawn Asghar Mohammad 7 April 2018 PIA planes get a facelift Dawn PIA secures limited gov t funding but barred from rebranding ch aviation PIA rebranding aims to rectify errors build global image Daily Times 27 June 2018 Major Airlines that Don t Serve Alcohol ShawnVoyage 7 April 2014 APP 14 August 2016 PM Nawaz inaugurates PIA Premier on Pakistan s 70th Independence Day Retrieved 14 August 2016 Garros Roland 2012 John Norman White 1994 A History of INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT Report In Flight Entertainment System History Are You Not Entertained Tedium The Dull Side of the Internet Retrieved 18 April 2019 PIA launches new inflight system Daily Times 15 January 2017 Retrieved 17 January 2017 PIA Precision Engineering Complex Services Pakistan International Airlines PIA Ground Handling Services Pakistan International Airlines PIA International Stations for Cargo Pakistan International Airlines Enjoy the spectacular shandur Polo Gala 2007 07 07 Piac com pk Archived from the original on 2 March 2017 Retrieved 11 September 2013 PIA Make Pakistan Your Next Destination 2007 Piac com pk Archived from the original on 7 September 2018 Retrieved 11 September 2013 Standard Charted PIA Credit Card on YouTube Retrieved 7 January 2007 PRI PIA alliance to help boost remittance inflows through banking channels Shaukat Tarin Archived 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 29 December 2009 Associated Press of Pakistan Corporate Social Responsibility within PIA Piac com pk Archived from the original on 6 March 2011 Retrieved 11 September 2013 PIA amp McDonalds Alliance Deal for Ramadan photobucket com Retrieved 22 April 2018 PIA Annual Report 2008 2009 Archived 12 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine PIA Press Releases Retrieved 2 May 2009 PIA signs agreement with PC Dubai permanent dead link Daily Times Retrieved 2 May 2009 Photos Boeing 737 33A Aircraft Pictures Airliners net Retrieved 24 April 2015 Photos Airbus A310 304 Aircraft Pictures Airliners net Retrieved 24 April 2015 PIA Pakistan International Pakistan News Archived from the original on 5 January 2016 Retrieved 24 April 2015 Dawn News August 31 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility www piac com pk Retrieved 11 July 2020 Accident description Douglas C 47B 40 DK DC 3 AP ACZ Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 12 February 2017 Accident description Douglas C 47A 10 DK DC 3 AP AJS Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 25 January 2017 Accident description Convair CV 240 7 AP AEH Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 25 January 2017 Accident description Vickers 815 Viscount AP AJC Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 11 September 2009 Accident description Vickers 815 Viscount AP AJE Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 11 September 2009 Accident description Douglas C 47A 1 DK DC 3 AP AAH Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 12 February 2017 Accident description Fokker F 27 sic Friendship 200 AP ATT Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 12 February 2017 Accident description Fokker F 27 sic Friendship 200 AP ALM Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 17 February 2017 Accident description Fokker F 27 sic Friendship 600 AP AUS Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 10 February 2017 Hijacking in Karachi Hijacking wasn t first try The New York Times 7 September 1986 Retrieved 7 December 2011 Mishra Sidharth 1997 Where Gallantry is Tradition Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College Allied Publishers p 153 ISBN 978 81 7023 649 8 History of PIA Pakistan International Airlines Retrieved 24 April 2015 self published source History of PIA Pakistan International Airlines historyofpia com Retrieved 22 April 2018 Accident description Fokker F 27 sic Friendship 600 AP AUX Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 24 April 2015 Accident description Fokker F 27 sic Friendship 200 AP BBF Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation Retrieved 24 April 2015 December 28 1997 PIA flight careens off runway in Dubai PIA Flight 2002 accident Aviation safety net Retrieved 16 March 2010 History of PIA Pakistan International Airlines historyofpia com All 45 on Pakistani plane killed in crash yahoo 10 July 2006 Archived from the original on 12 July 2006 Retrieved 10 July 2006 Pakistan police Crash kills 45 CNN 10 July 2006 Archived from the original on 21 July 2006 Retrieved 10 July 2006 Plane makes emergency landing in Sweden after bomb threat 25 September 2010 RCMP Anonymous caller said man had explosives on plane The Toronto Star 25 September 2010 Plane makes emergency landing in Sweden after bomb threat SN Aircraft accident ATR 42 500 AP BHJ Lahore Airport LHE Retrieved 17 January 2021 Accident PIA A313 at Peshawar on Jun 24th 2014 aircraft under gun fire on final approach The Aviation Herald 24 June 2014 Retrieved 24 April 2015 Crash PIA AT42 near Havelian on Dec 7th 2016 engine failure The Aviation Herald 7 December 2016 Retrieved 8 December 2016 PIA plane crashes near Karachi airport www geo tv Retrieved 22 May 2020 Hawker Luke 22 May 2020 Pakistan International Airlines plane crash horrible scenes as Airbus 320 hits houses Express co uk Retrieved 22 May 2020 Bibliography EditLaurence Urdang Ceila Dame Robbins 1984 Slogans Gale Research Company p 36 ISBN 978 0 81 031549 5External links Edit Media related to Pakistan International Airlines at Wikimedia Commons Official websitePortals Pakistan Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pakistan International Airlines amp oldid 1132210546, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.