KARACHI: Pakistan International Airline, the national flag carrier, grounded 11 passenger planes owing to inflation and rising fuel prices.
Three newly-inducted Boeing 777s faced the axe owing to a surge in prices while the remaining aircrafts are facing numerous issues with major ones as spares and repairs.
The total fleet with Pakistan International Airlines comprises of 40 plus and with 11 on ground, the remaining 30 are catering to domestic and international travellers.
The details made available by PIA give details of the grounded planes; two of the three wide-body Boeing 777 aircrafts were grounded in 2020 and one in 2021. Five A320 aircrafts have also been grounded — two in 2021 and three in 2023. PIA also grounded three ATR aircraft — one each in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
PIA officials have also confirmed the report about the 11 grounding the aircrafts owing to airlines’ financial problems.
The national flag carrier has been in deficit since long despite many cash boosters from different governments.
It is pertinent to note that from the 11 grounded aeroplanes, three have been rendered as ‘beyond repair’ and that included Boeing 777, Airbus and an ATR.
The report, however, doesn’t divulge what happens to grounded planes when they are beyond repair. It is not known where does the scarp go or what happens to expensive instruments that are installed in the aircraft.
