RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will lease four aircrafts this year for its new flights to China and Saudi Arabia.

According to sources, PIA will be leasing two wide body airplanes with seating for more than 250 passengers and two narrow body aircrafts with seating for 200 passengers.

An official Dawn talked to said PIA Chief Executive Officer Musharraf Rasool Cyan has directed the fleet planning department to expedite the acquisition process.

When contacted a PIA spokesperson said the acquisition is in process in accordance with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules and that the new planes will start arriving from July-August.

With its addition of four aircrafts to its current fleet of 32, PIA will start flights to two or three new destinations- China’s city of Guangzhou and the Saudi cities of Al Qaseem and Taif.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2018