Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is the national flag carrier of Pakistan and often referred to informally as "Air Pakistan."

• Basic Information

Full Name: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

Founded: October 29, 1946 (as Orient Airways); became PIA in 1955

Headquarters: Karachi, Pakistan

Main Hub: Jinnah International Airport (Karachi); also operates from Islamabad and Lahore

Slogan: “Great People to Fly With”

•  History Highlights

Year   Milestone

1946 Established as Orient Airways in Kolkata, India

1947 Moved to Pakistan after Partition

1955 Nationalized and renamed Pakistan International Airlines

1960 First Asian airline to operate a jet aircraft (Boeing 707)

1964 First non-communist airline to fly to China

• Global Network

PIA serves major domestic destinations like:

Karachi

Lahore

Islamabad

Canada

China

Peshawar

And international destinations including:

Saudi Arabia

UAE

UK

• Fleet (as of 2024)

1. Boeing 777-200ER / 777-300ER
2. Airbus A320 family
3. ATR 42/72 for regional and domestic routes

• Challenges

PIA has faced several issues over the years:

1. Safety concerns (notably after a 2020 crash in Karachi)
2. Pilot license scandals (leading to bans in the EU and U.S.)
3. Operational losses and poor customer service
4. Grounding of flights due to fuel or maintenance issues

Currently, PIA is:

1. Banned from operating in the EU and U.S.
2. Operating under financial and operational constraints
3. The government has discussed privatization to restore efficiency and credibility.