Which Airbus has been handed over to PAF by Qatar Airways???

raihans · Post by **raihans** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:14 pm

Just saw the news on PTV that Qatar Airways handed over an airbus aircraft to PAF as gift, any further details?

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:20 pm

Interesting news! Thank you Raihan for sharing. The aircraft is an Airbus A310. I'm trying to get further details.

CoyBoy · Post by **CoyBoy** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:21 pm

My guess is the single VIP A310-300 or a passenger A300.

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:22 pm

The Prime Minister was talking to the Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker who called on him here today, a press release says.

The Prime Minister thanked the government of Qatar and Qatar Airways for donating Airbus A310 to Pakistan and said this gesture is a symbol of close existing ties and the desire on the part of both the countries to further strengthen these relations. The aircraft was handed over by the Qatar Airline to Pakistan today.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

CoyBoy · Post by **CoyBoy** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:25 pm

Aww, I was hoping to see that aircraft in their new livery, well I think no more PIA planes for VIP flights for the leaders from now on.

AirBlue · Post by **AirBlue** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:27 pm

yea i really hope so ... and that A310 will be almost flying all the time with all the official on their 'official' trips

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:31 pm

Here's link to an old photo of the donated Airbus A310-304 (c/n 473, registration A7-AAF)

Photo Link: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1141375/L/

raihans · Post by **raihans** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:01 pm

Thank you Abbas for the info.

Here is further more for A7-AAF:
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a310-473.htm

Amaad Lone · Post by **Amaad Lone** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:31 pm

I think its disgusting that the government of Pakistan is accepting an 18 year old A310 as a gift/donation from the Qatar Government.

The Indians donated three A300s to the Afghan airline in 2002, but that was to a country being ravaged by 25 years of war.

PIA donated a 707 to Bangladesh Biman in 1976, an airline which could have claimed atleast 50% of the 1970 PIA fleet.

Pakistan is not a poor country that we need the Qatari government to donate a VIP A310 to PAF.

Pakistan is a country that spends millions of dollars on government cars a year, or just bought a couple of lear jets for its PM and President.

Would have been better had the Qatar government sold the A310 and used the money to build a hospital in a rural area of Pakistan.

I think accepting such a gift is humilating.

Howcome this A310 was not donated to Bangladesh or Somalia.

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:35 pm

According to aerotransport.org, A7-AAF was re-painted all-white and was in storage at Doha Airport since December 19, 2006.

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:38 pm

Amaad Lone wrote:PIA donated a 707 to Bangladesh Biman in 1976

Yes, it was Boeing 707-373C (AP-AWV). And, in 1969, PIA donated three Super Constellations (AP-AFR, AP-AJY & AP-AJZ) to Indonesia.

Babushka99 · Post by **Babushka99** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:40 pm

Amaad Lone wrote:I think its disgusting that the government of Pakistan is accepting an 18 year old A310 as a gift/donation from the Qatar Government.

I think accepting such a gift is humilating.

Howcome this A310 was not donated to Bangladesh or Somalia.

Why must you make a ruckus out of everything. It was a "gift" there is no shame in accepting a gift. Why must the gift that is given suddenly be equated to everything else?

Its a gift for crying out loud!!! No need to complicate things.

Adnan Anwar · Post by **Adnan Anwar** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:44 pm

Babushka99 wrote:
Amaad Lone wrote:I think its disgusting that the government of Pakistan is accepting an 18 year old A310 as a gift/donation from the Qatar Government.

I think accepting such a gift is humilating.

Howcome this A310 was not donated to Bangladesh or Somalia.

Why must you make a ruckus out of everything. It was a "gift" there is no shame in accepting a gift. Why must the gift that is given suddenly be equated to everything else?

Its a gift for crying out loud!!! No need to complicate things.

For press release purpose it is a gift but in reality Mushy and Shaukat must have begged for it as a donation.

Moin · Post by **Moin** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:15 pm

I remember seeing this A310 at DOH last year while transiting. It was part of the qatari royal flight and looked to be in excellent shape with substantially low hours on its airframe. At the time it was in full QR colors. I guess with an A319, A320, A340-200 and A340-500 in the royal fleet, they didn't really need this a/c any longer.

At least now PIA's A310 won't have to be pulled out of service every time one of our heads of state decides on a foreign jaunt.

behramjee · Post by **behramjee** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 8:37 pm

if this is indeed true, QR's CEO in exchange should have asked the Pak Govt the rights to fly daily from DOH to ISB/LHE and PEW nonstop from DOH.