PIA to Dry Lease Narrow-body and Turboprop Aircraft

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Airbus A320-214 registration AP-BLU (ex-OK-LEE) observed at Prague Airport today.

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ap-blu

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Airbus A320-214 registration AP-BLU departed from Prague Airport at 12:31 AM (Pakistan Standard Time) as ferry/delivery flight PK-7702 to Karachi.

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ap-blu

Is it delivered painted all-white?

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

AP-BLU landed at Karachi Airport at 7:06 AM.

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ap-blu

Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Airbus A320-214 registration AP-BLT (ex-OK-MEJ) now expected to depart on June 18 from Prague at 5:00 PM local time for ferry/delivery flight to Karachi.

Abbas

[Charliedelta11]

So as the tender for the narrow body's now comes to a close, PIA is now 9 A320 and 5 AT72 stronger. This will really help as far as freeing up the 777's for European routes is concerned. BUT, that being said the question of what needs to be done for the A310's still remains unanswered. I do not think the 3-4 777's that are rumored to be coming by the end of the year are a solution. They need to look for something that will settle in between. Something that offers capacity around the 190-230/240 range.

The 787-8/A350 are all great ideas, but it is very unlikely PIA can get delivery for any of these on short notice (and lets not forget, we cant afford these at this time). And the 310's have really been run into the ground and need to be replaced, SOON. A321's maybe? Can Pk get its hands on used A330's?

So I really wonder if the management has put any thought into this. They waited till all the fokkers were falling to pieces before going for the ATR. Same thing with the 737's when they used wetleased jets as a stop gap measure for almost 2 years if I'm not mistaken before taking delivery of new narrowbody jets. It would be very unwise to go down that route again.

[Abbas Ali]

On following link is photo of PIA Airbus A320-214 registration AP-BLU at Prague Airport on June 16 before delivery/ferry flight to PIA.

As seen in the photo, the A320 was delivered in basic colours of Holidays Czech Airlines - a brand that was used by CSA - Czech Airlines for operating holiday flights from Czech Republic.

Photo link: http://www.planes.cz/en/photo/1208872/a ... e-prg-lkpr

Abbas

[CoyBoy]

Same thing with the 737's when they used wetleased jets as a stop gap measure for almost 2 years if I'm not mistaken before taking delivery of new narrowbody jets. It would be very unwise to go down that route again.

Originally they were to have seven brand new A320s in 2007/08 on lease from ALAFCO Kuwait, in province tail livery, all was done then as typical of this region someone somewhere decided things shouldnt be heading in the right direction, its not part of our culture.

[riz]

That deal was scrapped owing to 'jamhoriat' that infested the country in 2007/08. Had it been materialized at that time, The airline would have focused on much needed 310 replacement And the addition to ATRs.
The last brand new plane inducted was BID.

[Amaad Lone]

The cancellation of the seven A320 lease deal in 2008 cost PIA a pretty penny.

They should calculate the cost of the wet lease aircraft that PIA took since 2008 and then calculate how much these seven A320s would have cost until 2015.

Plus the repair work done on the 737-300s until they were withdrawn.

The bill should be sent to HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS KING OF SINDUDESH MIAN ASIF ALI ZARDARI BHUTTU.

[Abbas Ali]

PIA Airbus A320-214 registration AP-BLT departed from Prague Airport at 10:45 PM (Pakistan Standard Time) as ferry/delivery flight PK-7702 to Karachi.

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ap-blt

Abbas

[PIA ap-bkz]

The last a320

[747-300]

Pakistan International Airlines - A320-200 - AP-BLS - OPLA by abdus sattar00, on Flickr
AP-BLS on which i travelled back to karachi. It was his 3rd or 2nd flight for PIA.


Pakistan International Airlines - A320-200 - AP-BLA - Retro 1960's livery by abdus sattar00, on Flickr
AP-BLA
was very happy to catch it.

Pakistan International Airlines - ATR 72-500 - AP-BKY by abdus sattar00, on Flickr

AP-BKY

Will upload photo of AP-BLW and AP-BLV soon.

[Abbas Ali]

AP-BLT landed at Karachi Airport at 5:18 AM.

http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ap-blt

Abbas

[aviator773]

Brilliant pictures A. Sattar.
Btw now when you look at what this management has been able to achieve over the past few months you feel maybe we finally are witnessing the revival of PIA. I know there is an argument out there that PIA still has to do a lot and procuring 14 planes won't magically make everything better again but after what this airline has gone through especially during the last 10 years, its fair we appreciate these efforts.

[ammad]

They now have to start planning to replace A310 fleet by A330-200 in a year period of time and should defer B777 procurement till A310 replacement happen. Deferring the procurement of B777X might give chance for PIA balance sheet to breathe for a while before indulging into Another multi Billion $ procurement.

Also, there is another Tender set to open on 29th of June for procurement of 4 A320, hope that will materialize soon. Now PIA have ample Aircraft to start flight with in Radius of 5 hour of flying time from either KHI, LHE or ISB. Now, PIA should capture all of the lost domestic market by applying shuttle service between KHI-LHE, KHI-ISB and LHE-ISB.

Also, more frequent flight to ME, and KSA region with fuel efficient Aircraft could bring positive impact on balance sheet.