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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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Comments (41) Closed
Nov 19, 2015 10:58am
from a technological standpoint, boeing 777 is the best flights out there.
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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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Nov 19, 2015 11:32am
The new aircraft manufactured in 2005. May God bless us
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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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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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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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Nov 19, 2015 11:55am
Great going PML-N.
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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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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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Nov 19, 2015 12:11pm
Oh yeah, because the painting the old livery will bring it all back.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Nov 19, 2015 01:31pm
A "10 year old new aircraft", only a Pathetic International Airline can make it happen.
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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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Nov 19, 2015 01:42pm
A new one after cosmetic surgery.
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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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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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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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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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Nov 19, 2015 02:16pm
@Vijay B What else do you expect from a corruption eaten organization.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Nov 19, 2015 04:48pm
It's only 11 years old. We are safe PIA take cares of its customers.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Nov 20, 2015 02:30am
When PIA will be able to get the brand new Planes .
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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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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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