ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has completed the inspection of its first Boeing 787 aircraft for operations in Pakistan and received clearance to operate the aircraft, marking an important milestone for the national airline, ARY News reported.
According to sources, a delegation led by Director General Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Nader Shafi Dar completed the inspection of the Boeing 787 at Oslo Airport and granted permission for its operation.
The inspection of the second aircraft will be conducted at Oslo Airport on Monday, while the third aircraft is scheduled for inspection at London Airport on November 20.
The addition of three Boeing 787 aircraft is expected to strengthen PIA’s international network and help provide better-quality services to passengers, according to sources.
PIA will operate its first Boeing 787 flight on October 31. The flight, PK-786, will depart from London for Islamabad. The aircraft is expected to arrive in Islamabad with passengers on November 1.
The Boeing 787 has a seating capacity of 358 passengers.
The national airline will also introduce a new uniform on October 31 alongside the launch of operations with the modern aircraft.
Sources said the remaining aircraft would be sent to London after their inspections are completed.
Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operations to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, were completely suspended.
A Fly Jinnah flight operating on the Lahore–Karachi–Riyadh route (LHR–KHI–RUH) was cancelled, while Flynas cancelled its Karachi–Madinah and Karachi–Riyadh flights due to technical reasons.
However, flights to Madinah and Jeddah operated by various other airlines from Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Islamabad continue to operate as scheduled.
The Pakistan Airports Authority stated that special facilitation counters have been established at all major airports across the country to assist affected passengers.
It is pertinent to mention here that at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in Houthi attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced
This is the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade.