PIA’s new Boeing makes inaugural flight

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

RAWALPINDI: A recently inducted Boeing 777-200ER in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fleet has made its first landing at Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Wednesday.

The aviation division spokesperson said it was its inaugural flight from Karachi to Islamabad. Another Boeing 777 will be joining the PIA fleet very soon.

This aircraft was manufactured in 2005, powered with two General Electric engines. Seating capacity in Business Class is 25, Economy plus 54, Economy class 228 with the total reaching up to 307 seats.

PIA is being restructured and revamped in order to provide the best travel experience to the passengers.

The spokesman said that keeping in mind the golden era of PIA and the days when this airline was best in the world, PIA Retro Livery from 1960’s has now been painted on the aircraft. Boeing 777 is the most modern and reliable aircraft in the aviation industry.

The PIA has managed to streamline its operations by grounding 20-year-old aircrafts (B-737 & B-747) and bringing in new fuel efficient fleet.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2015

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indianguy

Nov 19, 2015 10:58am

from a technological standpoint, boeing 777 is the best flights out there.

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Vijay B

Nov 19, 2015 11:12am

"This aircraft (Boeing 777) was manufactured in 2005." and "Boeing 777 is the most modern and reliable aircraft in the aviation industry." Both in the same article? Has the industry been sleeping since 2005? And PIA is bragging about inducting a 10 year old aircraft? Wow!

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Majid

Nov 19, 2015 11:32am

The new aircraft manufactured in 2005. May God bless us

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SDA

Nov 19, 2015 11:40am

Is this a used aircraft? I assume yes because built in 2005 can sit at the Boeing facility to be sold just this year

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Azad

Nov 19, 2015 11:44am

More investment into bankrupt PIA. Need to sells airline to foreign airline and let them burn the dollars on behalf of PIA, will save some Tax payers money. Main purpose of PIA is to cater political VIPS or political termites (Deemuk)

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neutral

Nov 19, 2015 11:48am

All the best. Will help narrow the gap between profit and loss ? Profit is something PIA has forgotten for decades but let us hope. Aur ground kab hoga ?

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Fast

Nov 19, 2015 11:55am

Great going PML-N.

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sheryar

Nov 19, 2015 12:04pm

"PIA’s new Boeing makes inaugural flight" "This aircraft was manufactured in 2005" these two sentences in the same article

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Woz Ahmed

Nov 19, 2015 12:09pm

The plane was previously in service with Vietnam Airways for 10.5 years, as are the two others due. https://m.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/777/32716/AP-BMG-PIA-Pakistan-International-Airlines

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Seriously

Nov 19, 2015 12:11pm

Oh yeah, because the painting the old livery will bring it all back.

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Guest65

Nov 19, 2015 12:28pm

The Policy of Used cars ( 5 years the limit on age ! ) to be imported seems to have taken the root to sky too . Where on earth it could endager say one to 5 or maximum 10 people ( if two fully loaded 5+ years old cars collide in an accident ) , In the sky one single jet ( the one being touted as the kost modern ! ) doing an unwanted somersault , or the pilot's error cos the pilot is more thinking about how to make more money ! ( like the shaheen air flight which skied of the run way due to a drunken pilot ! ) , so such rules can only be chartered and applied in this land of Pure read Magicians . I wonder who made the kickbacks by going and buying ,5 years old plane which no other airline in the world was interested to buy and fly !!!

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Muhammad

Nov 19, 2015 12:39pm

Travelled yesterday from Islamabad to Karachi PK-319 on a newly acquired 'second hand' plane. The in-flight entertainment system displayed Vietnam Airlines. The lights panel above my seat (entire section infact) did not work. When i tried to call the air hostess, the bell wouldnt work either. A loud sound from the landing gear as it touched down aswell. These 777s were probably not used with care.

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Khalid Khan

Nov 19, 2015 12:51pm

No! In PIA books it is brand new. Probably parked in a hanger for 10 years before PIA spotted them and purchased it and everyone lived happily after.

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Khalid Khan

Nov 19, 2015 12:59pm

For the record. Inaugural flight is an airline's first flight to a new destination. First flight of a new aircraft is Maiden Flight.

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kash

Nov 19, 2015 01:11pm

I am a fan of these new 777's. Its the best boeing plane ever. Way more efficient than the equivalent airbus. PIA was the launch customer for the 777 back in 2005. I remember the water shower at Manchester airport. It will look good in retro livery.

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ashraf

Nov 19, 2015 01:21pm

Lets hope this period of low fuel prices is used as an opportunity to upgrade the fleet & revive the airline. However, the only long term solution is to privatize...

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Hamid shafiq

Nov 19, 2015 01:24pm

10 years old plan even less worth of 10 million US dollar i do not know why govt spend money on a white elephant? even one flight in loss means losses and losses make a big loss.

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Merchant

Nov 19, 2015 01:31pm

A "10 year old new aircraft", only a Pathetic International Airline can make it happen.

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Tech GS

Nov 19, 2015 01:38pm

Excellent !!! PIA is a world class air line. No doubt about that ! Boeing 777-200ER started in 1997, currently used by 33 Airlines. Uptill now 422 aircrafts are delivered. Singlapore Air Lines have about 200+ aircrafts of this model. This particular Aircraft has been leased to PIA thru AcerCap thru Vietnam Airlines. Source : http://flyinginireland.com/2015/08/aercap-leased-purchased-and-sold-132-aircraft-in-the-second-quarter-of-2015/

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KAZIM REZA

Nov 19, 2015 01:42pm

A new one after cosmetic surgery.

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KaKa

Nov 19, 2015 01:51pm

all old inside....new paint outside. Like we had entire KTC like this back in 80's

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Kanakasabhai

Nov 19, 2015 01:52pm

The latest Boeing is 787 Dreamliner with a waiting period of over five years Many airlines like Air India have tens of Dreamliner after selling 777's. 2005 make aircraft is not new .

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A Pakistani

Nov 19, 2015 01:54pm

PIA "management" is hoping against hope if they think the introduction of 10 year old "new" 777 will make PIA become a " great people to fly with". No they would not. PIA should revamp its entire management on professional footings or it should be privatised. Unfortunately there are few professionals left in Pakistan. I fly PIA frequently and it is always a very distressing experience.

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Farhan

Nov 19, 2015 02:15pm

the 'new' in the headline means it's a new addition to the existing fleet of PIA, not a brand new aircraft. Please don't take everything literally.

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Naveed

Nov 19, 2015 02:16pm

@Vijay B What else do you expect from a corruption eaten organization.

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Spooky

Nov 19, 2015 02:26pm

Still its twelve years old. To bring up to its 1960 standard PIA has to clean up its act and flush out all the corruption and political appointment before it can see the glory days. with out that its impossible to bring up the trust of the passenger.

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Rome cruiser

Nov 19, 2015 03:02pm

As a comparison, I always enjoy travelling in our 2 years old car much more than in our 10 year old car (same make). Aircraft feel pretty much the same way.

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kash

Nov 19, 2015 03:22pm

http://tribune.com.pk/story/977832/pia-two-new-aircraft-to-join-fleet/ Leased planes. Re: dreamliner is not feasible for Pakistan. Not enough seats. PIA should get a couple of a380's for UK/eur and hajj traffic. Fly 777's to US/CAN

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Mahmood

Nov 19, 2015 03:24pm

A few 'newish' planes under old management will not fly with the public! The whole structure of the Airline needs to change, from top down, from management to ground handlers to in-flight crew. Schedules need to be revamped. Food needs to improved. Fare have to be competitive. Quality of overall experience has to be upgraded. And attitude needs to be turned upside down!

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Rana

Nov 19, 2015 03:42pm

Grounding 20yr old plane and replacement with 10yr old plane, so average life of plane in PIA just 10yrs. Do not seem to be efficient policy at all. Decreased duration means increased budget in terms of training, maintenance and specific logistics needed.

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Junaid

Nov 19, 2015 03:46pm

After the other respectable airlines have completely used it, then they paint the aircraft again and repair it and then they sell it to PIA, so it always becomes the latest aircraft for our PIA. Because throwing it away in the scrape is not so profitable for the sellers.

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Jawad Pakistani

Nov 19, 2015 04:48pm

It's only 11 years old. We are safe PIA take cares of its customers.

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Sudhir Neyalasinger

Nov 19, 2015 05:04pm

777s have been around for over a decade now. Boeing Dreamliner is the latest Boeing passenger aircraft out there.

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Sudhir Neyalasinger

Nov 19, 2015 05:10pm

@kash You should check out the new Boeing dreamliners. Air India flies a fleet of them . The leg room and seat comfort in these aircraft is better than any other passenger aircraft as also the fuel economy. But then Air India, like PIA is loss-making and a drain on the country's coffers.

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Skeptic

Nov 19, 2015 05:36pm

If PIA had bought used planes from Emirates, Eitehad or Qatar Airways, I would be a bit comfortable about the plane's air-worthiness and age, But Vietnam? The land of the boat people!? Does not inspire much confidence!

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Prem

Nov 19, 2015 11:52pm

@SDA Aircraft was not from boeing. PIA a got it from a leasing company, so it is not new

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Prem

Nov 20, 2015 12:05am

PIA leased all the new aircraft from an aircraft leasing company called Aercap. Though it is called brand new, it is brand new for PIA. Most of the airlines lease aircraft for services. When they get it under dry lease, all the maintenance has to be carried out by the airlines.

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sami shahid

Nov 20, 2015 02:08am

no need for privatization....add more aircrafts into the fleet....cut all the extra expenditures and kick out all the useless employees.

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Zubair

Nov 20, 2015 02:30am

When PIA will be able to get the brand new Planes .

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Justice

Nov 20, 2015 05:44am

Thanks to PPP and PML-N government runing our National Airline(PIA), there is nothing to cheer about this new add on, current government have already decided to sell PIA, corrupt politicans have lot of money stashed in Dubai and EU to buy PIA.

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S haider

Nov 21, 2015 08:00pm

@Woz Ahmed And Vietnam airlines is buying real new ones and modern planes like A350 and B787. We are getting dumped aero planes with dumped livery. Why waste millions on the retro livery.

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