Report by Engineering Post
The public sector passenger and freight transport service via air route is delivered by Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL).
The national carrier, with a total fleet of 32 air planes, had earned an operating revenue of Rs 238503 million during calendar year 2023 as compared to the previous calendar year, witnessed an increase by 38.6 percent. On the other hand , operating expenditure during the calendar year 2023 had increased by 28..5 percent, recording an increase in loss by Rs 51972 million i.e. operating expenses had increased from Rs 183345 million to Rs 235317 million.
POIACL has not recruited any new staff since March 2018 as per the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Furthermore, PIACL is in the process of privatization and therefore, all recruitment activities have since been halted by the Privatization Commission. Privatization process was underway as per the direction of the Federal government. Couple of attempts for privatization of the national airline so far had not borne the desired results. According to the latest information, another attempt was expected in the first week of June 2025 which was the deadline for inviting the Expression of Interest from the local and foreign prospective buyers.
After segregation of Core and non-Core functions, the airlines hopefully will bring improvement in its performance and operational efficiency by maximizing sales proceeds from the divestment of PIACL and enhanced residual value. Non-core functions will be offered to the strategic investor which would quite expectedly help in the rapid development and modernization of PIACL besides bringing efficiency to various business segments of PIACL.
Initiatives taken for ensuring sustainability and environment safety included:
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO standard and recommended practices are being followed to ensure fuel efficiency to reduce carbon emission from aviation fuel turn-off. This was being done through operational efficiency, optimizing flight routes, using variable cost index, maintaining optimal flight levels, using single engine taxi after landing, subject to serviceability of the Auxiliary Power unit due to the aging fleet, reduction in emission to the maximum level somehow cannot be achieved.
Due to high prices of sustainable aviation fuel globally as compared to the conventional fuel and the non-availability of sustainable aviation fuel in Pakistan, it has not yet been utilized on PIA flights.
For carbon offset programmes and environmental certifications, PIA planned to participate in carbon offset programmes Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for international Aviation (CORSIA) and European Union Emission Trading System (EUETS).
