Pakistan og security

4 airlines refuse to lease aircraft to PIA


A source says the foreign airlines expressed their inability to lease the aircraft citing security issues. -File photo

LAHORE: Four foreign airlines have refused to give aircraft to the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on 'wet lease' because of security reasons.

The airlines of Eastern Europe and Central Asia had shown interest in providing four aircraft to the PIA when it floated a tender in early June. But after the attack on Karachi airport and firing at a PIA plane in Peshawar, they have withdrawn the offer.

Under the wet lease agreement, an airline provides aircraft, pilots and cabin crew and maintenance and insurance, while under the dry lease the airline provides only aircraft.

A source in the PIA told Dawn that the foreign airlines had offered to provide 180-seater A320 and 737 aircraft to PIA, but now they expressed their inability to do so citing security issues. He said the national flag-carrier was also facing problems in acquiring planes on dry lease.