ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to add 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to its fleet as part of a major expansion and upgrade of its operations, officials said.
According to details, the first Boeing 787 is expected to be purchased next month as PIA is planning to add 16 aircraft to its fleet during the year. The national airline also has a long-term plan to acquire around 64 Boeing 787 aircraft over the next eight years.
The aircraft are expected to be purchased from the United States. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner can cost between $248 million and $355 million, depending on the model and its configuration. The planned fleet expansion comes as PIA moves towards a new phase under private management and looks to improve its operations and services.
In a separate development, PIA’s Board of Directors has approved a performance bonus equal to one month’s basic salary for its employees. The decision was taken at the airline’s 102nd board meeting held on Friday, the first meeting following PIA’s transition to private management.
A PIA spokesman said the bonus reflected the new management’s focus on its employees and was aimed at supporting the airline’s wider transformation and growth plans.
The spokesman said investment in human resources was among the leadership’s immediate priorities as the airline works to improve its performance.
The planned addition of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, along with the focus on employees, signals a major effort to modernise PIA and strengthen its position in the international aviation market.
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