Boeing Revises Offer for New PIA Aircraft Amid Fleet Expansion Plans

Boeing is revamping its offer to supply new aircraft to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), as the recently privatized carrier seeks to expand its fleet and bring grounded planes back into service. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Boeing Global President Brendan Nelson in New York, according to Pakistan's finance ministry.

The revised offer would include possible financing through the US Export-Import Bank, as well as engines, spare parts, maintenance support, and efforts to return grounded aircraft to service. PIA needs a fleet of at least 25 to 30 aircraft to operate sustainably and support its expansion plans, according to a US Commerce Department assessment.

The talks also covered Pakistan's efforts to restore direct flights to the United States, which remain restricted due to a Category 2 safety rating given by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2020. Aurangzeb also discussed plans to outsource the management of major airports, including those in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.