PIA keen to sale out aircraft to German museum

ISLAMABAD: The management of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is keen to sale out an operational A-310 aircraft to a German museum for five million dollars.

The PIA spokesman on Friday said the aircraft would be kept in PIA livery at the German museum. “The aircraft will be kept there in PIA livery giving us an opportunity to showcase our airline in the heart of Europe,” the spokesman said.

He however claimed that the aircraft was recently grounded from PIA, saying the aircraft had not been sold as yet and German museum had expressed interest in buying the plane. He said the presence of the aircraft will strengthen people to people contacts between Pakistan and the European Union.

The issue of sale of the PIA aircraft was raised by parliamentarians at a meeting of special committee of the Senate on performance of the national flag carrier. The committee members while expressing reservations over the deal directed holding an inquiry into the deal and sending the same plane for appearing in film being produced in Malta.

The parliamentarians pointed out that the PIA crew was sent to Malta along with aircraft illegally and without seeking any permission from the government. The committee directed the federal secretary aviation present at the meeting to submit a report on the issue of selling the aircraft for five million dollars. It also asked the official that the chief executive officer of PIA should also ensure his presence at the next sitting otherwise a privilege motion would be moved against him.