ISLAMABAD: (APP) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has acquired 18 narrow body/fuel efficient aircraft during last two years which improved fleet age from 14 years to 9 years.
The induction of more aircraft in fleet, the punctuality of flights has also witnessed increase to above 90 per cent during 2016.
Official sources at Aviation Division while listing achievements gained and profit earned by PIA during tenure of present government on Wednesday said the organization recorded a gross operating profit of Rs. 2.83 billion in first quarter of 2015.
The sources said PIA also launched Premier Service initially on London route effective August 14, 2016 and response of this upgraded service is very encouraging.
PIA has obtained A-330-300 aircraft from Sri Lankan airlines in order to compete with other rival airlines on this route.
The sources said in line with Prime Minister's Youth Development Programme, cabin crew training centers have been established at Lahore, Nawab Shah, Swat, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta besides Karachi. Cabin crew has also been trained from Qatar Airways while new seat tablets were introduced for B-777 aircraft in
Business Class.
The sources said in order to make PIA more independent towards decision making and commercialization, an enactment was jointly passed by Joint Session of Parliament through which PIA has been converted from Corporation into Public Limited company in April 2016 vide PIACL (Conversion) Act 2016.