Ryanair to lease PIA aircraft for cargo flights

Published October 25, 2020
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Ryanair have signed an agreement under which the former will provide its Boeing-777 aircraft to the latter to operate cargo flights between Urumqi and Pakistan. — File photo
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Ryanair have signed an agreement under which the former will provide its Boeing-777 aircraft to the latter to operate cargo flights between Urumqi and Pakistan. — File photo

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Ryanair have signed an agreement under which the former will provide its Boeing-777 aircraft to the latter to operate cargo flights between Urumqi and Pakistan.

PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said on Saturday that PIA has cut down its flight operations because of travel restrictions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving many of its aircraft idle.

The PIA has therefore converted its Boeing-777 passenger aircraft into a cargo plane and leased it to Ryanair.

Mr Hafeez said the aircraft has the capacity to carry 52 tons of cargo; the plane will fly this route for four consecutive months.

Pakistan will export dried fruit, including pine nuts, to China using this aircraft, he said.

He added that the PIA is entering into strategic partnerships like other airlines in the crisis-hit aviation industry.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2020

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.