Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is finalising plans to upgrade its ageing domestic turboprop fleet as it prepares to acquire ATR 42s.
PIA operates 11 Fokker F27s with an average age of around 40 years, and says it is in negotiations with ATR to purchase seven used ATR 42s which it hopes to operate in the second half of this year. PIA says it has taken an internal decision to acquire ATR 42s over Bombardier Dash 8s, although "options are still open" to acquire the Canadian turboprop.
The carrier is meanwhile planning to lease four more Airbus A310-300s to join the six already in service. They are expected to be added "around August or September".
The A310s will replace four of PIA's eight Airbus A300B4s: the remaining four are to be retired after new Boeing 777s start arriving at the end of this year.
Last year PIA placed firm orders with Boeing for eight 777s, including three -200ERs, two -200LRs and three -300ERs as part of an international fleet modernisation. The orders came after it agreed to purchase six used Boeing 747-300s from Cathay Pacific Airways.
Air Zimbabwe is reportedly talking to lessors about acquiring up to three ATR 42-500s to replace its single operational Boeing 737-200 Adv on domestic and regional routes. The Zimbabwean flag carrier has seen traffic fall dramatically since the beginning of political unrest and economic collapse in 2000. ATR general secretary Jean-Pierre Cousserans says the company has not negotiated with the government-owned carrier, which is subject to European Union sanctions. He adds that there are several ATRs that are beyond the company's control which could be offered to the airline. Tarom, which has five ATR 42-500s in service, is understood to be one potential source.Source: Flight International
