Details of Airbus A320 Aircraft Offered on Lease to PIA

[Foxtrot.Romeo]

hopefully the above should mean good news!

[Foxtrot.Romeo]

another source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-89798 ... d-on-oil--

[Abbas Ali]

According to a local news channel, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved finance ministry's guarantees for provision of 49 billion rupees to PIA - probably in the shape of bank loans with finance ministry guarantees for acquiring dry leased A320s.

The ECC has approved procurement of dry leased narrow body jets by PIA, according to PIA press release quoted below.

Lahore, February 26, 2013:

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has accorded in principal the approval for the acquisition of newer narrow body aircraft on dry lease which will improve PIA's schedule reliability as well as save on fuel costs. PIA spokesman said here on Tuesday.

The ECC also approved the extension in all GoP guarantees as requested by PIA and has also approved the airline's management request to provide support for additional funding to provide fiscal space to the Corporation.

The ECC meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Mr. Saleem Mandviwala whereas Minister of Defence Mr.Syed Naveed Qamar, Secretary Defence and Chairman PIA Lt.Gen (Retd) Asif Yaseen Malik, Managing Director PIA Muhammad Junaid Yunus and Chief Financial Officer PIA Mr.Aftab Ahmed were also present.

The ECC took up PIA's request to extend expired and expiring GoP guarantees and fresh funding for the acquisition of new aircraft on dry lease.

PIA presented an interim Business Plan for the period 2014-18 which was highly appreciated by ECC and the strategic direction envisaged by the new management in turning around the airline in due course of time. The ECC also provided valuable comments and desired that a monitoring mechanism should also be put in place. The Finance Minister Mr. Saleem Mandviwala advised that the Ministry of Finance will carry out the monitoring on behalf of GoP. The spokesperson said.

Source: PIA Press Release (February 26, 2013)

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

In an answer to a question during a press briefing held today, the finance minister said that 46 million dollars have been approved for PIA for dry lease of five aircraft (most likely Airbus A320).

Probably the approved amount will be obtained by PIA in the shape of bank loans with guarantees given by government/finance ministry.

Abbas

[Charliedelta11]

Whats the latest on this

[mac777]

we have been kept waiting.........and still nothing.l
shaheen a320 has arrived.
i ve lost hope to see anythg

[aerohead]

Junior cabin crew is expected to start their training of A320 this month but unless and until the first 320 lands in Pakistan, you can never be sure.

[aj357]

FINALLY!!!! (Source : PIA facebook page)

PIA is ready to receive 5 Airbus A320-232 series aircraft on lease to take position of old B737-3 series aircraft, incoming aircraft registered to PCAA and induction starting from 20th March 2013 as per following schedule:

A320-232 AP-BLC: 20 March 2013
A320-232 AP-BLE: 31 March 2013
A320-232 AP-BLA: 07 April 2013
A320-232 AP-BLB: 20 May 2013
A320-232 AP-BLD: 24 May 2013

All 5 Airbus A320-232 will be delivered in full white color and PIA Engineering (Base Station, Karachi) will initially look-up to make aircraft ready for departures, and also engineering personnel will paint the latest livery, taking national flag on tails.

Pakistan International Airlines
Great People to Fly With.

[mac777]

oof. finally the good news.
are they ex king fisher or exjetstar? any idea about configuration?

[Foxtrot.Romeo]

source please? could not find it on the PIA facebook page. can you provide the link kindly!

yes i believe 4 of them are ex-jetstar asia aircraft and one TAM airways aircraft. all 5 of BOC Aviation as posted by Abbas on page 1 of this thread.

great news! all the best to PIA! hope this can help revive its lost glory and passenger confidence by providing a better product to its valued customers through increased frequencies and on time flights!

[mac777]

rapid and ambitious induction.
cannot wait for them.
curious if they'll be used for new routes/resuming routes like colombo/male

[A310]

@aj357

Well pia facebook page is not the source really....its palpa!

[Foxtrot.Romeo]

A310, I am unable to find the source and page displaying this info on facebook. can you tell me which page it is since there are quite a few PIA and palpa pages, and where to locate it? or simply send the link to it? thanks!

[PK757]

as much as they need new aircraft, these ex JQ a320s arent in the best conditon!
first off why would an airline dispose off a barely used aircraft anyway?
i remember takin a short hop on on e JQ 320 between KL ad PNH. they have all eco extrmemly tight seating as in 28" seat pitch and NON RECLINING SEATS! and NO IFE! the plane seemed tired and tatty overall. Not to mention V2500 engines that are considerd to be maintenance heavy!
lets hop BOC reconfigures these planes and overhauls the engine for a better experience!

[imiakhtar]

as much as they need new aircraft, these ex JQ a320s arent in the best conditon!

When PIA issued the tender, the bidders had to submit maintenance records detailing the time remaining on critical parts such as LLPs and landing gear. The aircraft would have been rejected, as some were, if they didn't meet the requirements specified.

first off why would an airline dispose off a barely used aircraft anyway?

Excess capacity, end of lease agreements, who knows. The tender process was rigorous and if these aircraft hadn't met the worthiness criteria, they wouldn't have been accepted.

they have all eco extrmemly tight seating as in 28" seat pitch and NON RECLINING SEATS! and NO IFE! the plane seemed tired and tatty overall.

The aircraft will be used mainly on relatively short legs domestically and regionally where such features are not necessary. Most importantly, PIA will be able to operate some semblance of a normal schedule compared to the current chaotic situation with the 737 and a310s fleets.

Not to mention V2500 engines that are considerd to be maintenance heavy!

Compared to the rb211 and cfm56, every engine would be considered unreliable and maintenance heavy!

Nevertheless, the V2500 does have about 2% lower fuel burn than the cfm56 and if it's good enough for Lufthansa, British Airways, Qatar, Etihad, US Airways, American Airlines, Jetblue, Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways, Sichuan, Air China, Indigo, Turkish Airlines, Gulf air, Vietnam, TAM Brasil, Yemenia, Israir, Spirit, Vueling, TACA, Wizz Air, Shanghai, Hainan, HKG, MEA, and many more I've forgotten, it's good enough for PIA.