The prospecting routes that airblue can look into is Colombo, Dhaka on a A320/319.

regarding the PTVs if these A343s are not having then might be the option of iPad which is being offered on board by airblue will works for them in generating some extra revenue?

Further details of mentioned a/c from ILFC

Airbus A340-313X first delivered to Air Canada 14/05/98 last operators Air Jamaica and Turkish Airlines TC-JIJ 'Selcuk'
Airbus A340-313X first delivered to Air Canada 11/02/99 last operators Air Jamaica and Turkish Airlines TC-JIK 'Pamukkale'

Airblue set to become first Airbus A340 operator in Pakistan

Islamabad — Airblue, Pakistan’s largest private sector airline announced today that it has completed an agreement to expand its fleet by leasing Two Airbus A340-300 aircraft from Los Angeles based International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

“The addition of these wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft to our current fleet of single-aisle Airbus A320 family aircraft is great news for Airblue; it is part of our expansion plan to provide additional service to our international destinations and open up new markets. These aircraft will be deployed on long-haul routes, allowing us to continue providing quality service while proudly representing Pakistan worldwide,” said Tariq Chaudhary, Chairman and CEO of Airblue.

The aircraft will have an all Economy configuration of 342 seats and will be equipped with CFM engines. The induction of the 4-engined Airbus A340 aircraft is a major step for aviation in Pakistan and represents the first time that a private sector airline has inducted modern wide-body aircraft into its fleet. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in late August this year.

The Airbus A340 aircraft has crew commonality with the Airbus A320 aircraft providing for greater efficiencies; and the extension of the Airbus operating and maintenance philosophy allows single-aisle and wide body aircraft to be operated with standardized procedures.

Source: Pakistan Observer

Fly away: Airblue to lease two aircraft

Published: July 9, 2012

KARACHI: Airblue will add two Airbus 340-300 aircraft to its fleet this August, which will enable it to fly to more destinations in Europe, the private airliner said in a statement on Sunday. The airline currently operates with a fleet of five aircraft. It has already signed the lease agreement for the aircrafts with Los Angeles-based International Lease Finance Corporation. Each aircraft will have 342 seats and will be equipped with CFM engines. Airblue said that its existing flight crew, which flies the A320 aircraft, could be easily deployed onto the Airbus A340 aircraft.

Source: tribune.com.pk

AirBlue Airbus A340 aircraft will be equipped with 342 seats in all-economy configuration, according to following news report.



And, according to following news report, A340 will help AirBlue in operating flights to more destinations in Europe.



Abbas

342 seats??? is it not a little crampy. Typical seating is 2 class 295 and 3-class 267. Can someone throw some more light?

the seats are very dirty looking.. will Airblue renovate the seats? if its a night flight from islamabad most will be sleeping but they should get AVOD inseats for better service

the arrival of these a343 is the most exciting forthcoming event- overshadowing shaheen's induction of b734.
hope to see more late 1990s-2000s aircrafts instead of scrap b732 being inducted.
manchester was expected.i guess 1 will be used for domestic peak hours now that bhoja air will never recover.
to be able to fill 342 seats on all routes is quite worrying.

the seats are very dirty looking.. will Airblue renovate the seats? if its a night flight from islamabad most will be sleeping but they should get AVOD inseats for better service

the seats are very dirty looking.. will Airblue renovate the seats? if its a night flight from islamabad most will be sleeping but they should get AVOD inseats for better service