Pak National Carrier Sells Air-Worthy Plane To German Museum, Deal Questioned

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ailing national carrier sold a flight-worthy Airbus aircraft to a German aviation museum for a little over USD 5 million, prompting a parliamentary panel to demand a thorough report from the PIA.The Senate panel yesterday expressed apprehensions about giving a flight-worthy Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft to a museum in Leipzig in Germany and asked the national flag carrier to submit a thorough report on the matter, Dawn newspaper reported today.
Senators who met to discuss the performance of the PIA described the deal to sell an Airbus A-310 to the German museum as “suspect”, the paper said.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Performance of PIA, PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan, said: “We need answers on this irregular deal.”
The committee members observed that the aircraft has already landed in Germany and no permission was not sought to sell the flight-worthy airplane. No agreements were signed and the PIA did not receive any advance payment for the A-310.
“Everything is wrong with this arrangement, especially when such a deal has not been sanctioned,” Mr Khan said, adding that the PIA officials present at the meeting failed to give satisfactory answers on the deal.
The German museum had expressed interest in acquiring the A-310 from PIA last year, to induct it among its collection of international airlines’ aircraft.The committee members also asked why a fully functional aircraft was given to the museum when it only wanted to acquire the structure of the plane.
“Why were the parts, which could fetch more funds, not sold in the open market,” Senator Col (retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement asked while urging the PIA’s senior management to explain their actions.
Officials from the PIA responded that the aircraft was sold to the museum on the directions of the senior management for a little over USD 5 million, the report said. Describing such deals as “unheard of”, Mr Khan directed the PIA officials present for a detailed report. The PIA was in the news this month when it allowed seven passengers to travel standing in the aisles all the way to Saudi Arabia, leading to a probe.
The airline has accumulated liabilities of over Rs 300 billion and an additional loss of over Rs 5.6 billion is being added to this amount every month, the PIA management told a Senate committee at a briefing last month.

Airlines

These are the 5 oldest airlines Still Operating in the World

The history of aviation is an exciting adventure formed by the pioneering efforts of several individuals and organizations. The world’s oldest airlines, which have played a vital role in establishing the global travel sector, are among these trailblazers.

In this article, we will explore the five oldest airlines still in operation today, highlighting their remarkable journeys and enduring legacies in the world of aviation.

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1. Finnair:

Founded: November 1, 1923
Headquarters: Vantaa, Finland
Primary Hub(s): Helsinki Airport
Fleet Size: 84
Destinations: 132

As a pioneer in European aviation, Finnair, founded in 1923, Marked its remarkable centennial milestone on November 1, 2023. Being among the oldest airlines in Europe, Finnair has witnessed many changes over the past 100 years, going from a small regional airline with few routes to a global leader in both air travel and hospitality.

Finnair’s adaptability has been demonstrated by its ability to quickly adjust to recent geopolitical developments and continue providing clients with exceptional service in its distinctive Nordic manner, even as it expands its services to North America and Southeast Asia.

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2. Qantas:

Founded: November 16, 1920
Headquarters: Mascot, Sydney, Australia
Primary Hub(s): Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, and Sydney Airport
Fleet Size: 130
Destinations: 85

Qantas is Australia’s flag carrier and the country’s and Oceania’s largest airline in terms of fleet size, overseas flights, and international destinations. It is the second-oldest airline still in operation.

Australian carrier Qantas holds its name among the oldest airlines in the world, with its foundations dating back to November 1920. Recently On November 16, 2020, QANTAS celebrated its remarkable centenary.

3. KLM Royal Dutuch Airlines

Founded: October 7, 1919
Headquarters: Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands
Primary Hub(s): Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands
Fleet Size: 116
Destinations: 145

KLM, officially known as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is the world’s oldest airline that is still in operation under its original name. On October 7, 1919, the company was founded. Four years ago, On 07 October 2019, KLM celebrated its remarkable centenary. As an airline from the beginning of the 20th century, it survived World War II and is currently part of the Air France-KLM company.

4. Aeroflot

Founded: February 3, 1923
Headquarters: Moscow, Russia
Primary Hub(s): Sheremetyevo International Airport
Fleet Size: 247
Destinations: 146

Aeroflot is Russia’s national carrier and largest airline. It is also Eastern Europe’s oldest airline, having been founded in early 1923. DOBOROLET, or The Russian Society for Voluntary Air Fleet, was the airline’s original name.

Aeroflot concentrated on foreign routes out of Moscow when the airline was separated into several enterprises. In celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2023, Russian airline Aeroflot (SU) recently began a series of retro-style flights, transporting customers on a nostalgic journey through time.

5. Avianca

Founded: December 5, 1919
Headquarters: Bogotá, Colombia
Primary Hub(s): El Dorado International Airport and San Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (Avianca El Salvador)
Fleet Size: 102
Destinations: 114

On December 5, 2019, Avianca commemorated its 100th anniversary. The airline was founded in late 1919, according to its history. After acquiring a number of airlines in nearby nations, Avianca has grown to become one of Latin America’s biggest airline groups, with a fleet of over 130 aircraft and a network of subsidiaries covering almost the entire continent.