PIA to start flight operations from Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur

In an attempt to revive its international flights, Pakistan International Airlines on Tuesday announced the country's seventh weekly flight to Kuala Lumpur.

The national carrier's first flight from Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur will take off on November 4, PIA spokesperson Danyal Gilani said.



"Revival of PIA: PIA to start Islamabad-Kuala Lumpur flight from November 4. This would be the seventh weekly flight from Pakistan to KL," he wrote on Twitter.

Revival of PIA: PIA 2 start Islamabad-#KualaLumpur flight from 4th Nov. This would b 7th weekly flight from Pakistan to KL. #Malaysia pic.twitter.com/TDSiHMrg4p

— Digi Fusion (@DigiFusion24) October 18, 2016

PIA said on Monday it aimed to lease up to eight new aircraft in a move to upgrade its ageing fleet as the government sought to turn around the loss-making flag carrier. A company spokesperson said PIA had placed advertisements in domestic newspapers on Sunday seeking to secure both short- and long-term leases for wide-body aircraft.

The ad, which didn’t disclose financial terms for the leases, specified the airline was seeking modern planes, made since 2012, with capacity for more than 250 passengers each.



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had made the privatisation of PIA a top goal when he came to power in 2013. However, those plans were abandoned earlier this year after strikes by staff protesting against privatisation and a new turnaround strategy drawn up.

The government now plans to convert PIA into a limited company and list a 49% stake on the local stock exchange, meaning it will retain control of the business for at least two years. After that period, the government could still end up selling its controlling stake.

In its ad, the company said it was seeking a short-term wet lease of up to four wide-body aircraft, meaning the planes would come complete with crew and maintenance staff. The ad sought a long-term dry lease of up to four aircraft, meaning aircraft without crew. It said the lease term would be six to eight years.