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Pakistan's PIA to replace B777s with A320s

CrazyZ

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Pakistan's PIA to replace B777s with A320s
PIA - Pakistan International Boeing 777-200LR PIA - Pakistan International Boeing 777-200LR © Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org
01.07.2021 - 02:28 UTC

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) is planning to dry-lease four A320-200s by the end of 2021, with the first two replacing two B777s in the carrier's fleet, sources told The Express Tribune daily.

The Pakistani flag carrier recently confirmed that the first two of the four Airbus narrowbodies will be dry leased from Seraph Aviation Management and will deliver by mid-July and in August 2021, respectively. Tender documents from early 2021 seen by ch-aviation indicate the aircraft will be msn 7784 and 7792, both 2017 builds and formerly operated by Interjet. They are currently stored at Perpignan and Goodyear airports, respectively.

The reports did not indicate which two B777s the airline was planning to replace. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, PIA currently operates six B777-200(ER)s (16.4 years old on average), two B777-200(LR)s (16.2 years), and four B777-300(ER)s (13.6 years).

PIA did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
The other two A320-200s, whose identities were also not revealed, are expected to deliver in October and December 2021. All four jets will be dry leased for six years.

The tender documents show that besides the two narrowbodies from Seraph, PIA also qualified, on financial and technical grounds, four aircraft owned by GECAS, three from SMBC Aviation Capital, two from Etihad Aviation Group, two from CMB Financial Leasing, two from Minsheng Financial Leasing, and one from Goshawk. Although the carrier also received offers to the lease of B737 MAX and A320neo Family aircraft, none qualified for the tender. The RFP was originally framed as a request for the lease of up to eight aircraft.

PIA's current narrowbody fleet comprises eleven A320-200s.
The state-owned carrier also operates five ATR42-500s and four ATR72-500s. Speaking recently to the Pakistani media, Chief Executive Arshad Malik said the larger Avions de Transport Régional turboprops had been earmarked for retirement in the coming months. The airline had earlier said in reaction to ongoing safety concerns, it would actually ground all ATRs, including the ATR42s.

PIA Boeing 777 only made sense if PIA had direct flight access to USA/Canada. PIA hasn't had access to direct USA flights in years so it makes no sense maintaining and operating Boeing 777s. Down sizing to shifting Airbus makes sense. Focus should be on direct flights to EU, MENA and China. Don't need big 777's to do that.
 
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Pakistan's PIA to replace B777s with A320s
PIA - Pakistan International Boeing 777-200LR PIA - Pakistan International Boeing 777-200LR © Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org
01.07.2021 - 02:28 UTC

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) is planning to dry-lease four A320-200s by the end of 2021, with the first two replacing two B777s in the carrier's fleet, sources told The Express Tribune daily.

The Pakistani flag carrier recently confirmed that the first two of the four Airbus narrowbodies will be dry leased from Seraph Aviation Management and will deliver by mid-July and in August 2021, respectively. Tender documents from early 2021 seen by ch-aviation indicate the aircraft will be msn 7784 and 7792, both 2017 builds and formerly operated by Interjet. They are currently stored at Perpignan and Goodyear airports, respectively.

The reports did not indicate which two B777s the airline was planning to replace. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, PIA currently operates six B777-200(ER)s (16.4 years old on average), two B777-200(LR)s (16.2 years), and four B777-300(ER)s (13.6 years).

PIA did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
The other two A320-200s, whose identities were also not revealed, are expected to deliver in October and December 2021. All four jets will be dry leased for six years.

The tender documents show that besides the two narrowbodies from Seraph, PIA also qualified, on financial and technical grounds, four aircraft owned by GECAS, three from SMBC Aviation Capital, two from Etihad Aviation Group, two from CMB Financial Leasing, two from Minsheng Financial Leasing, and one from Goshawk. Although the carrier also received offers to the lease of B737 MAX and A320neo Family aircraft, none qualified for the tender. The RFP was originally framed as a request for the lease of up to eight aircraft.

PIA's current narrowbody fleet comprises eleven A320-200s.
The state-owned carrier also operates five ATR42-500s and four ATR72-500s. Speaking recently to the Pakistani media, Chief Executive Arshad Malik said the larger Avions de Transport Régional turboprops had been earmarked for retirement in the coming months. The airline had earlier said in reaction to ongoing safety concerns, it would actually ground all ATRs, including the ATR42s.

PIA Boeing 777 only made sense if PIA had direct flight access to USA/Canada. PIA hasn't had access to direct USA flights in years so it makes no sense maintaining and operating Boeing 777s. Down sizing to shifting Airbus makes sense. Focus should be on direct flights to EU, MENA and China. Don't need big 777's to do that.

30 Boeing 777/737s makes little difference for Boeing in terms of lost sales. The real issue is whether Airbus cuts PIA a good deal
 
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30 Boeing 777/737s makes little difference for Boeing in terms of lost sales. The real issue is whether Airbus cuts PIA a good deal
PIA isn't buying from Airbus or Boeing, these will be on dry lease from aircraft leasing companies that rent them out to carriers for long periods, that is aircraft are on lease without crew and PIA will be handling maintenance, along with flying with own crew.
B777s are long haul jets, was a shame PIA was using them for short routes in Pakistan. To top it off PIA had entered into a legal problem with existing providers for B777 as they were not renegotiating terms as per COVID impact.
Leasing is popular for carriers with smaller fleets as manufacturers actually take several years for preorder and delivery.
The way things are progressing with multiple expected COVID waves, PIA should and seems like is concentrating on domestic routes and making them more profitable with a refreshed fleet. Should be getting good deals as number of surplus fleets because of reduced international travel.
 
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Pakistan's PIA to replace B777s with A320s
PIA - Pakistan International Boeing 777-200LR PIA - Pakistan International Boeing 777-200LR © Tis Meyer / PlanePics.org
01.07.2021 - 02:28 UTC

PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) is planning to dry-lease four A320-200s by the end of 2021, with the first two replacing two B777s in the carrier's fleet, sources told The Express Tribune daily.

The Pakistani flag carrier recently confirmed that the first two of the four Airbus narrowbodies will be dry leased from Seraph Aviation Management and will deliver by mid-July and in August 2021, respectively. Tender documents from early 2021 seen by ch-aviation indicate the aircraft will be msn 7784 and 7792, both 2017 builds and formerly operated by Interjet. They are currently stored at Perpignan and Goodyear airports, respectively.

The reports did not indicate which two B777s the airline was planning to replace. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, PIA currently operates six B777-200(ER)s (16.4 years old on average), two B777-200(LR)s (16.2 years), and four B777-300(ER)s (13.6 years).

PIA did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment.
The other two A320-200s, whose identities were also not revealed, are expected to deliver in October and December 2021. All four jets will be dry leased for six years.

The tender documents show that besides the two narrowbodies from Seraph, PIA also qualified, on financial and technical grounds, four aircraft owned by GECAS, three from SMBC Aviation Capital, two from Etihad Aviation Group, two from CMB Financial Leasing, two from Minsheng Financial Leasing, and one from Goshawk. Although the carrier also received offers to the lease of B737 MAX and A320neo Family aircraft, none qualified for the tender. The RFP was originally framed as a request for the lease of up to eight aircraft.

PIA's current narrowbody fleet comprises eleven A320-200s.
The state-owned carrier also operates five ATR42-500s and four ATR72-500s. Speaking recently to the Pakistani media, Chief Executive Arshad Malik said the larger Avions de Transport Régional turboprops had been earmarked for retirement in the coming months. The airline had earlier said in reaction to ongoing safety concerns, it would actually ground all ATRs, including the ATR42s.

PIA Boeing 777 only made sense if PIA had direct flight access to USA/Canada. PIA hasn't had access to direct USA flights in years so it makes no sense maintaining and operating Boeing 777s. Down sizing to shifting Airbus makes sense. Focus should be on direct flights to EU, MENA and China. Don't need big 777's to do that.
convert all the B777s to air refuelers...unless they are leased.
 
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PIA isn't buying from Airbus or Boeing, these will be on dry lease from aircraft leasing companies that rent them out to carriers for long periods, that is aircraft are on lease without crew and PIA will be handling maintenance.
B777s are long haul jets, was a shame PIA was using them for short routes in Pakistan.
Leasing is popular for carriers with smaller fleets as manufacturers actually take several years for preorder and delivery.
The way things are progressing with multiple expected COVID waves, PIA should and seems like is concentrating on domestic routes and making them more profitable with a refreshed fleet.

PIA ought to be using B737 or Airbus equivalents for short haul routes within Pakistan
 
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PIA ought to be using B737 or Airbus equivalents for short haul routes within Pakistan
Correct, B737 has had its reputation tarnished with the Max fiasco but still popular with private carriers in Pakistan. A320 has been in service for a while both, jets are similar. I personally think the A320 is more comfortable to fly in and since PIA current fleet is just B777,A320 & ATR, they will likely prefer A320 because of existing maintenance infrastructure.
 
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convert all the B777s to air refuelers...unless they are leased.
Not even usa uses em because of their size cost and maintenance nor can we without NOC of USA

Besides for what unless we suddenly have 1000+ fighter jets fleet it's useless expense


Perhaps pia can lease our 777s to other airlines
To offset our own lease
That's the only viable solution I see for basically good 777 planes with 1000s of flight hours left which we bought for billion+


Pia even sold its Jumbo jets on scrap metal rates due to corruption of past PPP N league installed cronies
 
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Was looking at ATR alternatives and while reading up on China's upcoming MA700 aircraft discovered a Pakistani company that provides aviation services has pre ordered 10 units. I'm guessing they might plan to lease to local Pakistani carriers including PIA for ATR replacement.
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PIA Boeing 777 only made sense if PIA had direct flight access to USA/Canada. PIA hasn't had access to direct USA flights in years so it makes no sense maintaining and operating Boeing 777s. Down sizing to shifting Airbus makes sense. Focus should be on direct flights to EU, MENA and China. Don't need big 777's to do that.
Aren't the barred from flying to the EU ?

Thought they flew to to Canada, though.
 
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I don't see how they're planning on flying directly to the UK on a320's without a Technical Stop in Turkey for refueling.

airblue used to do over a decade back on their a320/a321's on flights to Manchester.

Now, if they had the a321LR, it might of been possible.

I think PIA needs to regroup & start off fresh - this time opting for either B787 or the a350 whenever they decode to go for wide-body in a year or two.

Question is who would the Govt. would want to deal with: US or France
 
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Was looking at ATR alternatives and while reading up on China's upcoming MA700 aircraft discovered a Pakistani company that provides aviation services has pre ordered 10 units. I'm guessing they might plan to lease to local Pakistani carriers including PIA for ATR replacement.
View attachment 758287
View attachment 758288
View attachment 758285
COMAC will become a bigger player in time. A320 is proven.
 
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PIA needs to be restructured, split into independent functions, and sold to multi-parties. Thereby making it private with gov retaining significant equity in the new cos. Let professionals run this as a business, and make it a cash flow positive business.
 
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I think PIA is waiting for the launch of Irkut MC-21 and Comac C919. Must not replace 777-300ER
 
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