Future Wide body fleet for PIA

[Usman123]

Recently struck upon a video showing order backlog of 5+ years minimum on both Airbus/ Boeing wide-bodies.

Maybe time PIA starts planning for new Widebody fleet for the next decade.
777 have done their duty and some might last 4-5 more years or so but their cost of operation, fuel cost will keep on growing!
BGL-BHW already dead BID & BMG to follow soon
BGJ & BMH next in line then the rest!

Better for PIA to place order now for 10 A350-900 with options for more it is best suitable for PIA demographics.
PIA can pay off the financing of the aircraft as it did with 777s bcuz legacy loans are now gone.

Some key benefits for this aircraft:
25-30% less fuel burn
Single engine type
Enhanced passenger experience
Additional earning by adding new Business & Premium Economy Product
One variant -900 only unlike 3x 777 variants reduces equipment to manage & maintain aircraft.
No need to hire large amounts of new pilots Current pilots can train and fly, Easy for A320 pilots to upgrade to the widebody
Best replacement to maintain seat capacity similar to 777-200s
Can fly to all PIA destination US & Canada aswell no need for LR variant
PIA can outsource maintenance till it learns to handle composite aircraft

Its not that PIA can't afford the planes, 10 aircraft will cost around 3 Billion Dollars & long term fuel saving benefits will off set the cost of aquring the aircraft thats how airline industry works!

[Averagespotter]

I completely agree with the notion that an aircraft like A350-900 is far better suited for PIA than a 777.

My problem begins with the feasibility of the plan. According to Aaj English and the Hindustan Times, PIA's total assets are worth around USD 600 million. This is only 20% of your estimated cost of aircraft acquisition. There is most certainly no way any private lender or the government would pay for the acquisition. Unfortunately PIA is in a perpetual cycle of not being able to make a profit because of debt, and not being able to get debt to expand because of a lack of profit.

It's worth mentioning though that as per the 2023 financial results, PIA made a profit from operations (but after debt was subtracted, it ended in a loss). So if the federal government decides to pay of the airline's debt, this plan will definitely work, but otherwise, we will have to keep day dreaming (more likely scenario).

[faisal-777]

Completely 2nd the suggestion of going for A350 instead of 787. With narrowbody fleet being A320, makes no sense to go for Boeing anymore. Moreover it will also make it possible to attract pilots from private airlines operating A320 family who may wish to upgrade to an Airbus widebody.

Also they should seriously consider 2-3 A321LR for European destinations and utilize widebodies in future only for US/Canada/Saudia operations.

[Usman123]

Completely 2nd the suggestion of going for A350 instead of 787. With narrowbody fleet being A320, makes no sense to go for Boeing anymore. Moreover it will also make it possible to attract pilots from private airlines operating A320 family who may wish to upgrade to an Airbus widebody.

Also they should seriously consider 2-3 A321LR for European destinations and utilize widebodies in future only for US/Canada/Saudia operations.

Yes A321Neo and LR variant can make routes profitable that were not feasible before and already operating the A320 adding 321s wouldn't be a problem.

[raihans]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

[o_khan]

Completely 2nd the suggestion of going for A350 instead of 787. With narrowbody fleet being A320, makes no sense to go for Boeing anymore. Moreover it will also make it possible to attract pilots from private airlines operating A320 family who may wish to upgrade to an Airbus widebody.

Also they should seriously consider 2-3 A321LR for European destinations and utilize widebodies in future only for US/Canada/Saudia operations.

Not just European destinations, but maybe even other Asian routes such as Bangkok, Non stop Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur

[faisal-777]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

[raihans]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

Don't forget the acquisition of Boeing 777s (against A340s) then.

[Usman123]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

Don't forget the acquisition of Boeing 777s (against A340s) then.

Was the right decision though!

[raihans]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

Don't forget the acquisition of Boeing 777s (against A340s) then.

Was the right decision though!

I didn't said about the decision but the decision makers

[MRT]

I think PIA should go for the A330-900. The aircraft is about $20 Million cheaper than the A350-900, can seat 310-330 passengers in a 2-class layout, and has a good fuel consumption rate. The aircraft will also modernize PIA's fleet and can be used on less popular routes. The A330-800 is also an option, being $60 Million cheaper, but with less capacity.

[faisal-777]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

Don't forget the acquisition of Boeing 777s (against A340s) then.

That decision could be taken without any influence. Quad jet was a dying concept, US pressure or no - 777 was obvious choice back then.

[raihans]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

Don't forget the acquisition of Boeing 777s (against A340s) then.

That decision could be taken without any influence. Quad jet was a dying concept, US pressure or no - 777 was obvious choice back then.

again, i am not against acquisition of 777s, you are still missing the point of "decision makers"

[faisal-777]

the acquisition of future fleet for PIA will be more likely POLITICAL rather than TECHNICAL, to make US leadership happy, PIA will go for Boeing, and to make EU leadership happy, PIA will go for Airbus fleet, ultimately a mix-up of fleet

I see your point but we are too small of an aviation economy for European / US leaders to worry about. Their main battleground is middleeast and east Asia.

Don't forget the acquisition of Boeing 777s (against A340s) then.

That decision could be taken without any influence. Quad jet was a dying concept, US pressure or no - 777 was obvious choice back then.

again, i am not against acquisition of 777s, you are still missing the point of "decision makers"

I completely get what you are suggesting here, what i also mean is there must have been no external pressure back then and likely there is none now. We are a very small market now in comparison. I would be surprised if lobbyists of Boeing or Airbus are active to get us in their camp, knowing that our foreign payment situation is still not healthy.