ISLAMABAD, March 11: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will acquire 10 aircraft of different categories on lease in an effort to enhance the size of its fleet, the National Assembly was told on Saturday.

In reply to a question by Mrs Belum Hasnain, Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal informed the National Assembly that PIAC was planning to induct four additional B-777 aircraft, three 70-seater turbo-prop planes and three A-310 freighter aircraft by 2011 on operating lease.

The national flag carrier is already in the process of buying eight B-777 and seven ATR 42-500 aircraft.

The national flag carrier has received four of the eight B-777 jets from Boeing. The remaining four planes will be delivered by 2008.

The first of the seven ATRs on PIA’s buying list are likely to join the fleet by May 2006, while the delivery of the remaining aircraft will be completed by May 2007.

The airline is also planning to replace its B-737 fleet in 2010 and A-310 passenger fleet from 2011.

According to details of the existing PIA fleet placed before the National Assembly, most of the Fokkers were manufactured in the 1960s, whereas the oldest among the wide-body aircraft are the B-747-200 Combi manufactured in 1979 and 1980.