PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL
(Pakistan)

Pakistan International, the proud flag-carrier of Pakistan took the step into the wide-body era in 1972 when it ordered three DC-10-30s. The first one was delivered on March 1st 1974 and introduced on the route between London and Karachi, but later the DC-10 was also used on the inner-Asian network and even on some high-density domestic routes like Islamabad - Karachi. A fourth one was added to the fleet in August 1976, but the number was again reduced to three when #181 (AP-AXE) was written off in a fire in Karachi. The replacement aircraft #200 (AP-BBL), which was acquired from Alitalia in 1983 didn’t stay for long as Pakistan International and CP Air came to the agreement to exchange their DC-10s and 747 fleets. Both airlines reduced the fleet by one aircraft type in 1985/86 when Pakistan International’s four DC-10s were traded to Canada in exchange for four 747-200s. This aircraft remained Pakistan International’s only long-range aircraft and is now replaced by used 747-300s. The airline also has A300/310, Boeing 737, 707 freighters, F27 and DHC-6 aircraft in the fleet.


For more information about Pakistan International visit the website about the History of PIA. This website by Abbis Ali is really great and very informative.

Following aircraft were operated by or for Pakistan International:

RegistrationAircraftFleetnr./NameOperated from - toWhere is it now?
AP-AXC46931/ 13701.03.1974 - 27.06.1986Gemini Air Cargo
AP-AXD46940/ 14102.04.1974 - 09.05.1986-stored-
AP-AXE46935/ 17219.10.1974 - 02.02.1981WRITTEN OFF
AP-AYM47889/ 22928.10.1976 - 28.10.1986-stored-
AP-BBL47868/ 20025.05.1983 - 19.12.1985SCRAPPED


Following DC-10 aircraft have been written off during service with Pakistan International:
AP-AXE, 46935/ 172


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