Pakistan International Airlines expects to conclude a major deal for up to 27 new single-aisle aircraft within the next few weeks, once it receives best and final offers from Airbus and Boeing.
The prospective deal, worth more than $2 billion at list prices, could be one of the major narrowbody sales campaigns of 2009, and was revealed to Flight Daily News at the Paris air show by PIA managing director Capt Mohammed Aijaz Haroon.
Speaking after signing a deal at the show with Thales for a RealitySeven Boeing 777-300ER full-flight simulator, Aijaz said the airline has completed the evaluation for the expansion of its fleet. "We're looking at the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. We've had meetings with Airbus and Boeing and are waiting for their final numbers. We expect to finalise a deal within the next few weeks."
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The airline plans to acquire up to 27 aircraft, through a mix of orders and leases, Aijaz says. "We'll place nine firm orders with nine purchase rights, and take nine from leasing companies. Deliveries will start at the end of 2010."
PIA has recently renewed and expanded its long-haul fleet through the delivery of nine 777-200ER/LRs and -300ERs, which are operated alongside five 747-300s. However, its narrowbody fleet comprises six ageing 737-300s, according to Flight's ACAS database. It also operates six ATR 42-500s and 12 A310-300s.
Aijaz says PIA aims to conclude a simulator deal in parallel with the new fleet acquisition, and is in talks with Thales and CAE. "We'd like to have the simulator in time to allow us to do the training in Pakistan," says Aijaz.
The new Level D 777-300ER simulator will begin operating its training centre in Karachi next year, and will be used both for PIA training needs and for third-party work. The airline currently uses 777 simulators at the CAE training centre in Dubai and British Airways in London for its training.
Source: Flight Daily News
