History of PIA - Pakistan International Airlines

Since 1954, PIA has flown many popular and famous passenger aircraft types. These aircraft include Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, DC-3 Dakota, Convair CV-240, Vickers Viscount 815, Boeing 707, Boeing 720, Hawker Siddeley HS.121 Trident 1E, McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 and Fokker F27 Friendship

PIA Boeing 747-240B Combi

In late 1970s, PIA placed order for two brand new Boeing 747-240B Combi aircraft. The first of these aircraft registered in Pakistan as AP-BAK was delivered to PIA in July 1979. The second aircraft registered in Pakistan as AP-BAT was delivered to PIA in March 1980. In this photo AP-BAT is seen departing from Karachi Airport in early 1980s. Boeing 747-240B Combi aircraft came equipped with main deck Side Cargo Door (SCD). The facility of Side Cargo Door allowed operation of these two Boeing 747s in all-passenger or in mixed configuration of passengers & cargo on main deck. PIA operated AP-BAK and AP-BAT on its domestic and international route network that included destinations in continents of Asia, Europe and North America. AP-BAT was retired in 2008 and scrapped at Karachi Airport in 2012. AP-BAK was retired in 2011 and scrapped at Karachi Airport in 2013

PIA Boeing 737-340

This photo from 1985 shows AP-BCE on a pre-delivery test flight. In 1985, PIA became the first airline from Asia to induct then new technology Boeing 737-300 aircraft. A total of six brand new Boeing 737-300s were delivered by Boeing Company to PIA between 1985 and 1986. Boeing 737-300 replaced ageing Boeing 720B aircraft in PIA fleet. PIA operated Boeing 737s on its domestic and regional route network. In 1992, PIA added seventh Boeing 737-300 aircraft in its fleet. That seventh Boeing 737 performed VIP flights in Government of Pakistan markings before it was returned to PIA in September 2000. PIA phased out Boeing 737-300 from its fleet in June 2014. Airbus A320-200 replaced Boeing 737-300 in PIA fleet

PIA Boeing 747-367

This photo shows PIA Boeing 747-367 registration AP-BFX landing at Manchester Airport in 1999. A total of six former Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-300s served PIA on airline's international & domestic route network between 1999 and 2015. Initially five Boeing 747-300s were acquired on dry lease from Cathay Pacific. The first of these aircraft joined PIA fleet in April 1999. In November 2002, the sixth aircraft joined PIA under a deal in which PIA bought all these six aircraft from Cathay Pacific. These six Boeing 747-300s were inducted as replacement of six ageing Boeing 747-200B aircraft in PIA fleet. PIA phased out its last active Boeing 747-300 from airline's fleet in August 2015

PIA Airbus A310-300

This photo from 1991 shows PIA's first Airbus A310-300 registration AP-BDZ wearing airline's new sporty livery on a pre-delivery test flight. AP-BDZ was first of three brand new A310s powered with General Electric engines to join PIA fleet in 1991 as replacement of airline's ageing Boeing 707 aircraft. Later three more brand new A310s also powered with General Electric engines were inducted in 1993 and 1994. The A310 performed PIA flights on airline's domestic and international route network including to destinations in Asia, Europe and North America. PIA also received certificate from Airbus for highest utilisation of Airbus A310-300 with 4236 flying hours per aircraft per year in 1999-2000. Between 2003 and 2004, six more Airbus A310-300 aircraft powered with Pratt & Whitney engines joined PIA fleet initially on dry lease from Airbus Asset Management as replacement of airline's ageing Airbus A300B4-203 aircraft. These six dry leased A310s were purchased by PIA from Airbus Asset Management in 2012. PIA operated A310s for more than twenty-five years and the airline's last three active A310s were phased out from fleet on December 31, 2016

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