PIA to purchase 10 Turboprop planes from Sweden

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 12:21 am

ASTORE, Oct 7 (APP): Pakistan International AirLines (PIA) has decided to purchase ten turboprop aeroplanes from Sweden to provide better air facility to the people of Northern Areas.

Talking to APP here Friday, official sources said that turboprop aeroplane would start its service from this winter for Gilgit and Skardu.

The sources further said that new fleet after its induction in PIA, would replace the services of the old Fokker planes.

Pakistan International Airlines at a high level meeting held at the Central Office of PIA has given approval in this regard.

The people of the Northern Areas as well as rest of the country would benefit from this service and after the induction of new turboprop fleet, better air service in the Northern region would be provided to the people of the region.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

raza · Post by **raza** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 12:54 am

Does "aeroplanes from Sweden" mean SAAB?

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:42 am

not sure, could the ATR that were planned coming from Sweden or does this article mean Sweden made SAAB are being ordered ???

VC10 · Post by **VC10** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 3:07 am

I assume these aircraft are Saab 2000s and will consist of the recently permanently retired Swiss fleet of the type.In addition, the Saab website lists seven such aircraft available for immediate lease.Like everything PIA however, this seems like another illogical decision ( if the planes are Saabs that is), since the recent tender notice for turboprops specified that they should be no more than five years old.Looks like the same old case of we'll believe it when we see it.

Salam, Mike.

Falcon598 · Post by **Falcon598** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 6:04 am

Not the Saabs again. Why would they go for that plane, hopefully they mean some used ATRs or Bombardiers from a Swedish airline. This turbo prop thing is pointless they keep changing their minds like every 2-3 months, one month they want Saab, then Bombarider, then ATR, then back to Saabs. They need to take this decision a little more seriously and stop changing their minds so often.

Amaad Lone · Post by **Amaad Lone** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 12:24 pm

The airforce bought Saab-2000s for their AWACS requirements, leaving PIA choice but to follow.

However, PIA might have decided to go for a mixture of Saab-340Bs and Saab-2000s, as PIA needs a few 30 seaters along with the larger 50 seat aeroplane.

But the following is a statement by PIA, in which it clearly states PIA's intention to buy ATR42-500.

Chairman PIA Tariq Kirmani informed the committee that the national carrier, as per its business plan to modernise the airline, intends to purchase seven new ATR42-500 aircrafts fitted with TCAS and RNP-5.

He said that PIA was planning to get the two such aircrafts from the manufacturers on lease before the delivery of seven new ATRs next year.

Amaad

Che · Post by **Che** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:40 am

Amaad Lone wrote:The airforce bought Saab-2000s for their AWACS requirements, leaving PIA choice but to follow.

However, PIA might have decided to go for a mixture of Saab-340Bs and Saab-2000s, as PIA needs a few 30 seaters along with the larger 50 seat aeroplane.

But the following is a statement by PIA, in which it clearly states PIA's intention to buy ATR42-500.

Chairman PIA Tariq Kirmani informed the committee that the national carrier, as per its business plan to modernise the airline, intends to purchase seven new ATR42-500 aircrafts fitted with TCAS and RNP-5.

He said that PIA was planning to get the two such aircrafts from the manufacturers on lease before the delivery of seven new ATRs next year.
Amaad

PAF has not finalized the deal for the SAABs for AWACS role, they are having second thoughts as Uncle has changed the dynamics by offering E-2s at a much lower cost....