ISLAMABAD, July 14: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is seeking early delivery of the ordered ATR 42-500 high-speed turboprop from its Franco-Italian manufacturer to fill the gap created by the government’s decision to stop using ageing Fokker F-27s for passenger flights after one crashed on a domestic route, killing all 45 people on board.

Chairman PIA Tariq Karmani told a meeting at the Defence Ministry that he had approached the ATR Company president to provide the aircraft before their scheduled delivery time.

The national flag carrier was facing difficulty in continuing operations on the socio-economic routes after the decision to stop Fokker passenger flights.

The alternatives, including use of C-130s and Boeings, are proving too expensive.

PIA had signed a $100 million deal in November 2005 with the ATR Company for purchasing seven new ATR 42-500 aircraft of 48 seats each. One of the aircraft has already been delivered, while another three are to be delivered from November 2006 to January 2007 according to the original delivery plan. PIA would get the remaining three by May 2007.

The chairman further informed the meeting that the airline was planning to acquire another two ATR aircraft on lease to serve the Northern Areas.