NEW YORK: Boeing will provide Pakistan International Airlines with a revised proposal for the acquisition of new aircraft as discussions continue over fleet modernisation, delivery schedules and financing options, the government said.
The matter was discussed during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson in New York on September 22.
According to the Press Information Department, Boeing confirmed that a revised proposal for the acquisition of new aircraft would be shared with PIA. The two sides also discussed the possibility of obtaining earlier delivery slots and using interim leasing arrangements.
Possible financing support from the US Export-Import Bank was among the subjects discussed.
The meeting also covered engine procurement, spare parts, maintenance and the restoration of grounded aircraft, areas that are directly relevant to PIA’s efforts to improve fleet availability.
No number or model of aircraft, purchase price or delivery timetable was announced, and the government statement does not constitute confirmation that an aircraft purchase has been completed.
Aurangzeb also briefed Boeing on PIA’s privatisation process and plans relating to the management of major airports.
Fleet availability has long been an operational issue for the national carrier, making both aircraft acquisition and the restoration of existing planes important to its future capacity.
The discussions form part of a broader effort to modernise PIA while the government pursues its privatisation programme. Any eventual aircraft acquisition would depend on the terms of the revised proposal and subsequent negotiations between the parties.
The government’s September 22 statement also referred to cooperation on aviation safety, regulatory engagement and the restoration of direct air links with the United States.