LAHORE: The Pakistan International Airlines has finally managed to win over its foreign counterparts who agreed to provide at least seven aircraft to the national flag carrier on 'wet lease' by the end of year.

Earlier, the airlines of Eastern Europe and Central Asia had withdrawn the offer of providing four aircraft to the PIA on wet lease after the militants' attack on Karachi airport and firing at a PIA plane in Peshawar.

"Two airlines - of Turkey and Bulgaria — have agreed to provide the PIA with four and three aircraft, respectively, on wet lease in November this year. The PIA management remained in negotiations with the foreign airlines for sometime and finally managed to win over their confidence," PIA spokesman Mashhood Tajwar told Dawn here on Wednesday.

He said the Turkish airline had agreed to provide four 737-800 (180-seater) and that of Bulgaria three A320 (159-seater) aircraft to the PIA.

Mr Tajwar said the national flag carrier's previous experience of acquiring four planes on wet lease was successful. PIA's flight operation got hampered in June this year after the return of four aircraft it had acquired on wet lease in December last year from Turkish and Czech Republic airlines. After the expiry of the lease agreement with these airlines, PIA reduced the number of its foreign and domestic flights to 26.

Under the wet lease agreement, an airline provides aircraft, pilots and cabin crew, along with maintenance and insurance facilities, while under the dry lease only aircraft are provided.

"The acquisition of the planes on dry and wet leases is part of the PIA management's efforts for a turnaround. We are positive that the arrival of the planes on wet lease will restore most of the suspended routes. Besides, it will also address the issue of delays," Mr Tajwar said.

The PIA intends to sign agreements with Turkish and Bulgarian airlines for a six-month wet lease. However, the period will be mutually decided at the time of inking the deal.

Published in Dawn, September 11th , 2014