Sunday, June 11, 2006
KARACHI: The first flight of newly inducted 48-seat-plane ATR 42-500 of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flied to Gwadar on Saturday and from there it would take off for Muscat.
Tariq Kirmani, chairman and CEO of PIA, saw off the passengers of the inaugural flight at Karachi. The plane will return back through the same route.
PIA has signed an agreement to buy seven new ATR42-500 aircraft from Avions de Transport Regional (ATR).
The first ATR42-500 aircraft delivered to PIA arrived in Pakistan on June 2, whereas delivery of the remaining six aircraft will be completed by May 2007.
ATR is a joint venture between France-based European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Italyââ¬â¢s Alenia Aeronautica, with each having a 50 percent share in the ATR program.
The ATR 42-500ââ¬â¢s are replacing the Fokker Friendship Aircraft, which served PIA for over four decades before it was decided to phase it out of service.
Tariq Kirmani said: ââ¬ÅAfter the induction of seven ATRs, PIA will acquire two additional ATRs having a capacity of 76 seats. Three 777 aircraft will also join the PIA fleet in December 2006 and later on in January and February 2007, respectively.ââ¬Â
Like its predecessor, ATR is also a twin-engine turbo prop, but incorporates latest avionics and is powered by PW127E engines made by Pratt and Whitney, Canada. PIAââ¬â¢s ATR fleet will be configured in two class with 10 economy plus seats and 38 economy class seats. PIA selected ATR42-500 after evaluating all the aircraft types available in similar category and made its choice after taking into consideration passenger comfort and operating economics as well as its performance for flying to/from the hot and high airfields.
The first ATR42-500 aircraft will be based in Karachi and PIA plans to operate it to the Mekran coast, southern Punjab and Gulf (Sharjah and Muscat from Gwadar).
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/defaul...11-6-2006_pg5_9
KARACHI: The first flight of newly inducted 48-seat-plane ATR 42-500 of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flied to Gwadar on Saturday and from there it would take off for Muscat.
Tariq Kirmani, chairman and CEO of PIA, saw off the passengers of the inaugural flight at Karachi. The plane will return back through the same route.
PIA has signed an agreement to buy seven new ATR42-500 aircraft from Avions de Transport Regional (ATR).
The first ATR42-500 aircraft delivered to PIA arrived in Pakistan on June 2, whereas delivery of the remaining six aircraft will be completed by May 2007.
ATR is a joint venture between France-based European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Italyââ¬â¢s Alenia Aeronautica, with each having a 50 percent share in the ATR program.
The ATR 42-500ââ¬â¢s are replacing the Fokker Friendship Aircraft, which served PIA for over four decades before it was decided to phase it out of service.
Tariq Kirmani said: ââ¬ÅAfter the induction of seven ATRs, PIA will acquire two additional ATRs having a capacity of 76 seats. Three 777 aircraft will also join the PIA fleet in December 2006 and later on in January and February 2007, respectively.ââ¬Â
Like its predecessor, ATR is also a twin-engine turbo prop, but incorporates latest avionics and is powered by PW127E engines made by Pratt and Whitney, Canada. PIAââ¬â¢s ATR fleet will be configured in two class with 10 economy plus seats and 38 economy class seats. PIA selected ATR42-500 after evaluating all the aircraft types available in similar category and made its choice after taking into consideration passenger comfort and operating economics as well as its performance for flying to/from the hot and high airfields.
The first ATR42-500 aircraft will be based in Karachi and PIA plans to operate it to the Mekran coast, southern Punjab and Gulf (Sharjah and Muscat from Gwadar).
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/defaul...11-6-2006_pg5_9