RAWALPINDI: One of Airbus A320 aircraft was handed over to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday at a formal ceremony held at Islamabad International Airport.

Airbus A320 was formally inducted into the PIA fleet as the second Airbus A320 is expected to arrive in Pakistan over the next two weeks.

This was one of the two aircraft which were stuck in Malaysia over a payment dispute.

With the induction of A320, the number of A320 aircraft in the PIA fleet has been 15 aircraft. Out of the 15 A320 aircraft, nine have been flying.

In the ceremony, Adviser to the PM on Aviation retired Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan, Secretary retired Captain Saif Anjum, PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, PCAA Director General Khaqan Murtaza and other senior officers participated in the event.

Addressing the ceremony, the PM’s adviser said this was a sigh of relief owing to the tireless efforts of the PIA team.

He highlighted that the induction would enhance the revenue of the national flag carrier, adding that the second aircraft would also be inducted into the PIA fleet in about next two weeks.

Airbus A320 was then sent to Indonesia, with two pilots. A crew member took off from Jakarta and after refueling from Bangkok and then the aircraft landed at IIAP.

Senior officials of PIA management received the aircraft which is now part of the PIA fleet.

A high-level delegation of PIA headed by the aviation secretary visited to resolve the issue in October 2023.

The PIA’s two aircraft A320 had been parked in Jakarta since September 2021 due to a dispute with the leasing company.

The PIA had to pay $26 million to the leasing company. Since the payment has been cleared now, second A320 aircraft will reach Pakistan in the next two weeks.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2024