PIA - Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l) has tendered for a new operator for its flights to the European Union and the United Kingdom from December 2022 until May 2023. It currently charters an A330-200 from Jordan Aviation (R5, Amman Queen Alia).
The airline seeks an EASA-certified carrier authorised to serve both the EU and the UK with an aircraft seating at least 250 passengers. While PIA did not specify the aircraft type, the unit has to be of 2004 vintage or younger. It also must not be due for major maintenance checks during the expected duration of the charter contract, unless the operator can provide an equivalent backup aircraft.
The specifications clarify that the bidders must have operated at least five passenger charter flights in the last two years, must have IOSA certification, and must have a fleet of at least five passenger aircraft, including at least two 250 or more seat widebody jets. While the airline would consider single-class aircraft, units equipped with lie-flat or full-flat business-class seats will be assessed higher.
PIA plans to deploy the aircraft on services from
Islamabad Quaid-e-Azam Int'l to
Manchester Int'l,
Paris CDG, and
London Heathrow, and from
Lahore Int'l to Manchester.
The Pakistani carrier
remains banned from operating to the EU and the UK due to a scandal over fake pilot licences dating back to 2020. As a result, it is unable to use its
growing widebody fleet on the routes to Europe.
Suffice to say no one has replied to the RFI based the specifications and so services are now suspended.
Contenders would be a choice of Hi Fly or Maleth Aero, however Euroaltantic fleet wouldn’t meet the specifications as printed or resign with Jordan !
Report from CH Aviation
They have however signed a codeshare arrangement with Etihad and another with THY ( in exchange for baby sitting their LHR slots)
I suspect Virgin ( may) has made a mistake suspending their service !!
Usual total mess from PIA management one assumes .