LAHORE -  PIA is going to add ten B-737 aircraft to its fleet by January, 2014 to what PIA management says a step to pull the airlines out of crisis, sources in national flag carrier confided to The Nation on Wednesday.
Majority of the PIA officers are of the view that with the induction of new aircraft in airlines fleet, PIA will become a profitable airline. An officer bearer of Pakistan Airlines Pilots Association (PALPA) said that it was a very good decision for PIA, by induction of new aircraft airlines would be able to earn revenue of worth Rs 7 million daily. According to a rough calculation if ten planes are operated on even domestic routes within country with 120 passengers each aircraft, the airline would be able to earn Rs 720 million daily and even after spending 90 percent of the earned money as expenses PIA would be able to earn Rs 70 million, PALPA office bearer said.
A senior Purser of the airlines said that out of ten aircraft five would be B-737-400 while five B-737-800 short range and medium range.
He said that with the induction of new B-737 a relief would be extended to B-777 which were purchased for long haul flights like American destinations but were being operated on local routes with one to one and half hour flight time. He said that operating B-777 on domestic route was unjust with these Long range aircraft since cycle life of the aircraft was being minimised.
“We are paying millions of rupees as installments against B-777 lease which was going to be ended by 2014-15 and after which PIA will feel less financial burden”, said an officer.  An engineer said that PIA was acquiring above said planes on lease-cum-purchase basis and was going to complete process in accordance with PPRA rules.  One better thing about this fleet was that airline has already trained cockpit crew, cabin crew and engineers of these aircraft and spares were also available. Due to all these above said facilities planes would be able to be operational shortly after induction. PIA management was striving hard to make airline profitable and a ‘way forward committee’ of PIA employees has been constituted to point out the pockets from where savings could be made. A member of the committee said, we have detected such point from where airline could save millions without compromising on quality.
PIA operates 110 Pre Haj flights
 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has so far operated 110 pre-Haj flights and carried around forty-four thousand intending Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
According to media reports, pre-Haj flights operation carries around 44‚000 Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.