KARACHI, Nov 21: Two relatively new Boeing 737-800 aircraft obtained on lease from a Turkish airline were inducted into the Pakistan International Airlines fleet on Thursday, while two others are expected to arrive next week.

According to a PIA statement, the fuel-efficient 189-seat aircraft were inspected by airline’s chairman Mohammad Ali Gardezi and managing director Junaid Yunus at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi.

Mr Gardezi said on the occasion that the PIA would now be in a better position to introduce more flights.

He said the aircraft would be deployed on Gulf and major domestic routes and instructed the officials concerned to speed up formalities to deploy them for operation without delay.

Mr Yunus said these aircraft had been acquired from Corendon Airlines of Turkey and another two similar aircraft would be received, also on damp lease, from Travel Services of Czech Republic next week.

He said the PIA had recently introduced additional flights on Toronto and Kuala Lumpur routes. With the increase in the number of aircraft in its fleet, the national airline will offer flights to new destinations and increase frequencies on existing profitable routes.