KARACHI: The new owners of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) held an important meeting at the airline’s Islamabad head office, where key decisions were taken regarding its financial affairs and revival, sources said.
The PIA board approved taking two Boeing 777 aircraft on wet lease from European airline Norse Atlantic for six months, sources said.
The board also approved acquiring three more aircraft on dry lease.
According to sources, the Boeing aircraft will be used for PIA’s flight operations to Europe and the United Kingdom.
The board also directed that the procurement of spare parts for PIA aircraft be expedited.
Financial, operational and other matters were also discussed during the board meeting, sources said.
Earlier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced a major expansion of its London operation, increasing the number of weekly flights between Pakistan and the UK capital to seven from October 27.
According to the national flag carrier’s spokesperson, PIA will operate five weekly flights from Islamabad to London, while two weekly flights will connect Lahore with London.
PIA currently operates four flights a week to London. The increase will effectively provide daily connectivity between Pakistan and the British capital, offering passengers greater flexibility in planning their journeys.
The airline said the expansion reflects strong passenger confidence and growing demand on routes connecting Pakistan with the United Kingdom.
The additional flights are expected to particularly benefit overseas Pakistanis and other passengers travelling between the two countries by providing more travel options and improved connectivity.
The expansion follows the return of slots at London Heathrow Airport that had previously been allocated to foreign airlines. The recovery of these slots has enabled PIA to increase its flight operations between Pakistan and London.
The airline’s decision comes as demand for Pakistan-UK air travel continues to grow, with the increased frequency expected to strengthen PIA’s presence on one of its key international routes.
