PIA becomes first Pakistani airline to fly Boeing 737-800
January 20, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The two Boeing 737-800 aircraft obtained by Pakistan International Airlines on wet lease from a Turkish operator earlier this week are being put into operation from Friday (today). No other airline in Pakistan is currently using this aircraft, the national airline stated in a press release.
The aircraft have been obtained for three months and two more similar aircraft are expected to join PIA's fleet in the coming weeks, according to the press release.
The decision has been taken so that the immediate shortage of aircraft could be ended. The shortage was created due to the grounding of four aged A-310 aircraft at the end of 2016.
The narrow-body aircraft have a capacity of carrying 189 passengers in all-economy configuration, mentioned the statement.
The two aircraft would operate six flights today which include PK-316 (Karachi-Lahore), PK-317 (Lahore-Karachi), PK-306 (Karachi-Lahore), PK-307 (Lahore-Karachi), PK-380 (Karachi-Multan-Islamabad) and PK-319 (Islamabad-Karachi).
Wet lease, on which the aircraft have been obtained, is an arrangement covering the hire of an aircraft, including the provision of a flight crew and sometimes fuel.
